EXACERBATION OF WEGENER GRANULOMATOSIS DURING PREGNANCY - REPORT OF ACASE WITH TRACHEAL STENOSIS AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a rare multisystem disease of unknown etiology. We describe a woman with WG who relapsed twice during 2 pre gnancies with appearance of tracheal stenosis. During the first pregna ncy which ended with a delivery of a healthy baby, the subglottic sten osis responded to laser radiation and glucocorticosteroid therapy. An uneventful therapeutic abortion was performed during the 2nd pregnancy . Our case brings to 15 the number of pregnancies which were recorded in 10 women with WG. Diagnosis of WG was done during pregnancy in 4 ca ses, and at the postpartum period in 3 cases. Eight pregnancies occurr ed in women with known WG, relapse occurred in 5 pregnancies. Two case s ended with maternal death. It seems therefore that pregnancy may hav e a significant contribution both to the relapse of WG and to its appe arance.