Wegener's granulomatosis responding to antituberculous drugs

We present a case of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) that responded to antitu berculous drugs. A 44-year-old woman with multiple nodules on chest radiogr aph received a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis because open-lung biopsy specimens showed caseous granulomas. Her chest shadows underwent repeated resolution after the start of antituberculous treatment, and relapse after the cessation of the drugs. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was positiv e (14 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units), and the second lung biopsy specimens showed necrotizing granulomas and vasculitis without pathogenic o rganisms. Thus, the patient received a diagnosis of WG and was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 10 years after her initial eval uation. Antituberculous drugs were effective in this case of WG.