eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Vessels

Wegener Granulomatosis: Follow-up

Author: Christen M Mowad, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Coauthor(s): David Hensley, MD, Mullanax Dermatology Associates, Arlington Memorial Hospital; Lindsey Ann Dohse, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Health System
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jun 5, 2008

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Patients should have regularly scheduled follow-up visits with the physician primarily responsible for managing the patient's disease. Visits should focus on disease involvement of pertinent organ systems and untoward effects of therapeutic agents.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

Deterrence/Prevention

  • No known deterrent measures exist to prevent development of this disease.

Complications

  • The extent of renal disease is related to most of the complications.
  • Respiratory problems may arise because of upper airway obstruction or pulmonary involvement.
  • Vision and hearing loss have been reported.
  • Other complications may be encountered secondary to immunosuppressive therapy.

Prognosis

  • Untreated disease is associated with a high mortality rate.
  • With aggressive medical therapy, 90% of patients improve and 75% of patients achieve remission.
  • Relapses occur in 50% of patients.

Patient Education

  • Patients must be educated with regard to the serious nature of their disease. Potential risks and adverse effects of immunosuppressive medications should be detailed.
  • Caregivers must instruct patients to watch for worsening respiratory status, fever or chills, epistaxis, nasal congestion, mucosal or cutaneous ulcerations, and unexplained or nonresolving cutaneous eruptions.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to properly diagnose WG, which is especially difficult at disease onset or with an incomplete constellation of classic features, is a pitfall.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Wegener Granulomatosis

Overview: Wegener Granulomatosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Wegener Granulomatosis
Treatment & Medication: Wegener Granulomatosis
Follow-up: Wegener Granulomatosis
Multimedia: Wegener Granulomatosis
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

Wegener's granulomatosis, WG

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Christen M Mowad, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Christen M Mowad, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

David Hensley, MD, Mullanax Dermatology Associates, Arlington Memorial Hospital
David Hensley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Southern Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lindsey Ann Dohse, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Health System
Lindsey Ann Dohse, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Abby S Van Voorhees, MD, Assistant Professor, Director of Psoriasis Services and Phototherapy Units, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Abby S Van Voorhees, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, National Psoriasis Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Astellas Grant/research funds Other; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Genentech Honoraria Consulting; Incyte Grant/research funds Other; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; Warner Chilcott  Consulting; Merck Salary Review panel membership

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Director, Division of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic; Director Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: 3M Pharmaceutical Grant/research funds Other; Graceway Pharmaceuticals Grant/research funds Other

Managing Editor

Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology
Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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