Cardiac involvement in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis, which c ould potentially affect any organ system. However, there have only been a f ew reports on cardiac involvement. We described the echocardiographic findi ngs in nine patients affected by WG. A complete M-mode, two-dimensional, Do ppler and color-Doppler transthoracic echocardiogram was performed in nine patients (seven females and two males) affected by WG. In each patient, car diac abnormality, for example, valvular damage, left ventricular global sys tolic dysfunction, or pericardial effusion, was detected. In particular, he art valve disease was found in eight patients, and in three cases, aortic v alve insufficiency, which was severe enough to require surgical valve repla cement, was observed. Cardiac involvement in patients with WG is common. In particular, there is a high frequency of aortic valve abnormalities. Thus, an echocardiographic study should be routinely performed.