Wegener's granulomatosis in the elderly subject

Purpose. - To determine aged-related variations in clinical and biological presentation and outcome in Wegener's granulomatosis. Methods. - In a retrospective cohort study of 35 patients with a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis, 24 patients (69%) younger than 60 years of age and 11 (31%) aged 60 years or older were compared for clinical and biologi cal characteristics. Results. - Clinical presentation was the same in the two groups; lymphopeni a was more common in the elderly group (P > 0.05). Despite a similar treatm ent regime, outcome was significantly worse for the elderly group (greater than or equal to 60 years), with a mortality rate of 36% versus 8% in the c ontrol group. Mortality was essentially due to delayed infectious complicat ions, raising the problem of a less intensive immunosuppressive treatment a fter remission. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.