SPONTANEOUS SPLENIC HEMORRHAGE IN A PATIENT WITH WEGENERS GRANULOMATOSIS

We report the occurrence of spontaneous splenic hemorrhage in a patien t with Wegener's granulomatosis, Pulmonary infiltrates, hemoptysis, an d crescentic glomerulonephritis were accompanied by a progressive sple nic enlargement with minimal abdominal symptoms. Magnetic resonance im aging was particularly helpful. The spleen was removed by minimally in vasive endoscopic surgery. Subcapsular hemorrhage had occurred because of splenic vasculitis. Postoperatively, a remission was achieved by a combination of high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. (C) 19 98 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.