Rhinology Systemic Disease Flashcards
What are the three primary granulomatous
diseases that can involve the nasal airway?
● Sarcoidosis
● Wegener granulomatosis (granulomatosis with polyangitis)
● Churg-Strauss syndrome
What is the classic clinical triad seen in Wegener
granulomatosis?
● Necrotizing granulomas of the respiratory tract (lung
effected most commonly)
● Vasculitis
● Glomerulonephritis
Describe the otolaryngologic manifestations of
Wegener disease.
● Sinonasal: Obstruction, rhinorrhea, crusting, sinusitis,
epistaxis, septal perforation, saddle-nose deformity
● Otologic: Conductive hearing loss with serous otitis
media; less commonly, sensorineural hearing loss and
vertigo
● Subglottic: Stridor, dyspnea, subglottic stenosis, crusting
What are the nasal manifestations of Wegener
granulomatosis?
Nasal inflammation, rhinorrhea, nasal crusting and puru-
lence, CRS, septal perforation
The antibodies used for diagnosis of Wegener
granulomatosis are directed at what protein?
PR3
What blood tests are highly sensitive for Wegener
granulomatosis but if negative do not completely
exclude the diagnosis?
c-ANCA, PR3 (most typical for Wegener, granulomatosis
with polyangitis (GPA)
Anti-myeloperoxidase (AMO); possibly more common with
microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)
What pathologic findings are seen on biopsies
of a patient with Wegener granulomatosis?
● Necrotizing, noncaseating multinucleated giant cell granulomas ● Small and medium vessel vasculitis ● Microabscesses Note: Biopsies are often nondiagnostic.
What are the three systemic medications used
to treat Wegener granulomatosis?
● Cyclophosphamide (used in severe cases)
● Methotrexate (used in limited Wegener granulomatosis)
● Glucocorticoids
What is the cause of sarcoidosis?
Unknown. There is the potential for a genetic susceptibility
that is triggered by exposure to an antigen (bacteria, virus,
dust, etc). African Americans are 10 to 20 times more likely
to be affected than are whites.
What is the most common nasal symptom
associated with sarcoidosis?
Nasal obstruction
Other symptoms include epistaxis, epiphora, nasal pain,
and dyspnea. Nasal symptoms are present in < 5%.
Where does sarcoidosis most commonly manifest
in the nose?
Septum and inferior turbinates and commonly involved
with thick crusting. At later stages, yellow subcutaneous
nodules can be seen.
What is the typical disease course of sarcoidosis?
● Spontaneous resolution within 2 years of disease onset
● ~ 10% → Progressive disease and pulmonary fibrosis
What is the key histopathologic characteristic
seen on nasal biopsy in a patient with
sarcoidosis?
Noncaseating granulomas
What laboratory test can be used in the diagnosis
of sarcoidosis?
Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE)
What percentage of patients with active
sarcoidosis will have a positive SACE test?
~ 80%
How is sarcoidosis most commonly systemically
managed?
Medically with one or more of the following:
● Corticosteroids
● Antirejection medications
● Antimalarial medications
● Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors
Rarely organ transplant can be considered.
What is the treatment for sinonasal sarcoidosis?
Nasal saline irrigations and topical nasal steroids. Some
advocate intralesional steroid injections. In acute exacer-
bations of aggressive disease, systemic corticosteroids
should be administered.
What is the clinical triad associated with
Churg-Strauss syndrome?
● Asthma
● Systemic vasculitis
● Eosinophilia