Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023241 (Legionella)
 6,990 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are of established value in the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis allowing early introduction of therapy. These patients are at risk of opportunistic infection, especially whilst receiving immunosuppressive drugs and this may mimic reactivation of disease. We present three cases of Wegener's granulomatosis complicated by opportunistic infection and assess the value of ANCA detection. Two presented with symptoms compatible with disease reactivation but ANCA were negative. One died with pulmonary infection due to Pneumocystis carinii, Aspergillus fumigatus and Herpes simplex. Transbronchial biopsy in the second case revealed Pneumocystis carinii. A third case had strongly positive serum ANCA at diagnosis but in addition pulmonary infection with Legionella pneumophila. ANCA detection is of value in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, but the result must be interpreted in the full clinical context.
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PMID:Opportunistic infection and antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies in Wegener's granulomatosis. 261 25

We describe a previously healthy man who presented with features consistent with Wegener's granulomatosis. While undergoing investigation, he developed acute respiratory failure, thought to represent progression of his vasculitis. Open lung and sinus biopsies were performed to obtain the diagnosis. Vasculitis was confirmed on the paranasasl biopsy, and the lung biopsy showed pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila, an association not previously reported in Wegener's granulomatosis. If immunosuppressive therapy had been started without making the diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia on lung biopsy, the patient might well have succumbed to the infection.
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PMID:Legionella pneumonia complicating Wegener's granulomatosis. 318 Aug 64