Which two organs are most commonly affected in Wegener granulomatosis?

Which two organs are most commonly affected in Wegener granulomatosis?

• A. Heart and brain
• B. Liver and spleen
• C. Kidneys and lungs
• D. Skin and muscles

Answer: (C)

Wegener granulomatosis is a necrotizing vasculitis of small- to medium-sized vessels with granulomatous inflammation. The two organs most commonly affected are the kidneys and the lungs. In the kidneys, vasculitis causes pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, leading to hematuria, proteinuria, and potential renal failure. In the lungs, granulomatous inflammation forms nodules that can cavitate and may cause alveolar hemorrhage, causing cough, hemoptysis, and shortness of breath. Other organs can be involved, but kidney and lung involvement is the typical pattern.

Wegener granulomatosis is a necrotizing vasculitis of small- to medium-sized vessels with granulomatous inflammation. The two organs most commonly affected are the kidneys and the lungs. In the kidneys, vasculitis causes pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, leading to hematuria, proteinuria, and potential renal failure. In the lungs, granulomatous inflammation forms nodules that can cavitate and may cause alveolar hemorrhage, causing cough, hemoptysis, and shortness of breath. Other organs can be involved, but kidney and lung involvement is the typical pattern.