Rheumatoid factor could be used as a marker of response to therapy in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis: A case report

• Main Authors: Vekić Davor, Dunđerović Duško
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medicinsko društvo za racionalnu terapiju Republike Srbije 2011-01-01
• Series: Racionalna Terapija
• Subjects: Wegener's granulomatosis; chronic renal failure; rheumatoid factor
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1821-0538/2011/1821-05381102039V.pdf

Wegener's granulomatosis is rare disease of unknown etiology. It could be classified as vasculitis, which involves lungs, kidneys, skin and other organs with characteristic necrotizing granulomas. Ninety percent of patients with this disease have respiratory or renal symptomatology. We present a case of a male patient, 68 years old, with symptoms of pneumonia, bilateral conjunctivitis, hemoptysis, 10 kg weight loss and gradual development of chronic renal failure. The symptomatology was caused by granulomatous vasculitis accompanied with high serum levels of rheumatoid factor, which was recorded at the beginning of the disease, before introduction of therapy. This case report underlines possible role of rheumatoid factor in estimation of the patient's response to administered therapy. .