Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis following COVID-19 in an Adolescent

Intern Med. 2023;62(4):589-593. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1109-22. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Abstract

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic disease that causes vasculitis in various organs. Although the mechanism of pathogenesis remains unclear, infection has been reported to be a causative factor. We herein report a case of GPA that developed following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an adolescent girl. One month after contracting mild COVID-19, the patient had facial allodynia, a fever, and weight loss and was admitted for multiple nodular shadows on a chest roentgenogram. GPA was diagnosed based on pathological findings of the lung and nasal mucosal biopsies. She received methylprednisolone and rituximab, and her symptoms and radiological findings improved.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019; facial allodynia; granulomatosis with polyangiitis; multiple lung nodules; proteinase-3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; rituximab.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Female
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / complications
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / diagnosis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Rituximab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Rituximab
  • Methylprednisolone