Charlier C et al. - Cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids were associated with higher risk of infection in Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) patients. Despite systematic cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, major infections, mostly bronchopneumonias and herpes zoster recurrences, were still common. Methods
Study to characterize major infectious complications and analyze potential risk factors in WG pts
Data from 113 WG pts (69 men) followed at least once between Jan 1984 and March 2006 were analyzed retrospectively
Results
35 pts (mean age at WG diagnosis: 50.2y) developed 53 major infections
Half of the major infectious episodes occurred within the 3 yrs after WG diagnosis
7% pts died, with 2% infection-related deaths
Pts diagnosed with WG before 1996 had a higher rate of infections than those diagnosed later
Cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids were independently associated with higher risk of major infection
All pts treated since 1993 received anti-pneumocystosis prophylaxis
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