Reaching Beyond the Clouds

Definition: By Mayo Clinic staff

Wegener’s granulomatosis is an uncommon disorder that causes inflammation of your blood vessels, which in turn restricts blood flow to various organs. Most commonly Wegener’s granulomatosis affects your kidneys, lungs and upper respiratory tract. The restricted blood flow to these organs can damage them.

Besides inflamed blood vessels, Wegener’s granulomatosis produces a type of inflammatory tissue known as granuloma, found around the blood vessels. Granulomas can destroy normal tissue. What causes Wegener’s granulomatosis is uncertain, but it’s not an infection nor is it a type of cancer.

Early diagnosis and treatment of Wegener’s granulomatosis may lead to a full recovery. Without treatment, Wegener’s granulomatosis can be fatal, most commonly from kidney failure.

For more information visit:  The Mayo Clinic

For information and resources regarding vasculitis diseases visit: The Vasculitis Foundation

For information and resources regarding all rare diseases visit: The National Organization of Rare Disorders

Update: In an effort to improve the understanding of Wegener’s granulomatosis, the name is being changed to Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (GPA).