Investigation of the frequency and clinical manifestations of Wegener vasculitis among other vasculitis patients in rheumatology ward of Vali-asr hospital during the past 10 years

Abstract

Vasculitis is a rare disease and its prevalence varies according to age, race, time, and geographical location. The need for this study is felt due to the fact that no study has been conducted in Iran to investigate the frequency, clinical, and laboratory symptoms of vasculitis in the considerable population of vasculitis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and clinical signs of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients who were admitted to the rheumatology ward in Valiasr Hospital, Tehran, Iran, over the last 10 years. In this study, all patients were evaluated with a possible diagnosis of vasculitis having been admitted to the rheumatology ward of Valiasr Hospital over the past ten years. These GPA patients were evaluated for clinical, laboratory, radiological, and pathological findings, as well as for outcome, mortality, and major complications. Over the last 10 years, 223 vasculitis patients have been admitted to Valiasr Hospital and of these, 87% were primary vasculitis and 13% were secondary vasculitis. The highest frequncy was related to GPA (21.52%) followed by Behcet's disease. GPA patients were women and men at 52.08% and 47.91%, respectively. Upper and lower airway involvement and total ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement were the most common clinical symptoms in GPA patients. According to the findings of this study, GPA vasculitis was the most common type of vasculitis and ENT involvements were the most common clinical symptoms in this patient. However, more studies are required to confirm these data in Iran.