Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
by
Annie Stuart DefinitionGranulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare disease. It causes the walls of blood vessels to become inflamed. This is called vasculitis. It limits blood flow to tissues and can affect any organ.
Causes TOPThe exact cause of GPA is unknown. The immune system attacks healthy blood vessels. This causes inflammation. It’s not known what causes the immune system to be overactive. Risk Factors TOPGPA is more common in people over 65 years old. It’s also seen more in people who are White. Symptoms TOPSymptoms are different in everyone. They range from mild to serious. In most cases, ear, nose, and throat symptoms appear first. They don’t respond to normal care and get worse over time. GPA can cause:
Other common problems:
Diagnosis TOPThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. The doctor may do tests to rule out other conditions, determine which organs are involved, or to confirm the diagnosis. You may have:
Treatment TOPThe outlook is good with proper care. The goal is to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels to bring on a remission. Without care, the condition can lead to death. Medicines will:
Prevention TOPThere is no way to prevent GPA since the cause is unknown. RESOURCES:National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) https://www.niaid.nih.gov Vasculitis Foundation https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca Health Canada https://www.canada.ca References:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Updated May 8, 2018. Accessed July 10, 2018.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Available at:
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/gpa/pages/default.aspx. Updated October 29, 2013. Accessed July 10, 2018. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/musculoskeletal-and-connective-tissue-disorders/vasculitis/granulomatosis-with-polyangiitis-gpa. Updated September 2017. Accessed July 10, 2018. Last reviewed May 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC Last Updated: 7/10/2018 | ||
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