Cannonball Pulmonary Opacities Disclosing a Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (GPA) With C-Antimyeloperoxidase (C-Anti-MPO) Antineutrophil Cytoplasm Antibodies (ANCAs)
Meriem Rhazari, Hiba Ramdani, Sara Gartini, Othman Moueqqit, Gokul Paidi, Mohammed Musallam, Afaf Thouil, Hatim Kouismi
Cureus · 2022-05
Abstract
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis of medium- and small-caliber vessels associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCAs) and antibodies specific for proteinase 3 (anti-PR3). The interest of this case lies on the fact that these antibodies are directed against myeloperoxidase revealed by the presence of scattered multiple pulmonary nodules. We report a 65-year-old-female patient who presented with a productive cough with mucus sputum associated with a cephalea for six months. The chest x-ray showed multiple pulmonary nodules, first suggesting a neoplastic origin. The initial etiological assessment was non-contributory. A month later, the patient developed pulmonary condensations and ocular signs. The etiological assessment then found ANCA anti-myeloperoxidase (anti-MPO)-GPA. A good knowledge of the clinical and radiological signs of GPA is important to quickly guide the diagnosis that will condition the prognosis of this disease.
MeSH terms
- Medicine
- Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
- Proteinase 3
- Microscopic polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Sputum
- Vasculitis
- Pathology
- Myeloperoxidase
- Antibody
- Etiology
- Autoantibody
- Immunology