Early diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a difficult clinical task and requires a thorough examination of the patient using modern research methods to identify pathognomonic symptoms. It is necessary to specifically search for respiratory tract damage by performing rhinoscopy, laryngoscopy, computer tomography of the paranasal sinuses, and lung scans, as the disease may be asymptomatic or have minimal clinical symptoms for a long time. Only 50% of patients are diagnosed within the first 3-6 months of disease onset, while in 7%, GPA remains undetected for 5-16 years after the first symptoms appear.

In the active period of the disease, non-specific signs are revealed in the laboratory examination: normochromic anemia, thrombocytosis, neutrophilic leukocytosis and an increase in ESR, rheumatoid factor, positivity of C-reactive protein. Clinical analysis of urine: hematuria, erythrocyte casts, proteinuria. Along with the urinary syndrome, azotemic indicators increase and the glomerular filtration rate decreases rapidly.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, diagnosis, ANCA

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