The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association  2000;7(3):286-290

Facial Palsy as a Presenting Symptom of Wegener's Granulomatosis.

Yun Jong LEE 1 ; Young Joo CHOE ; Eun Bong LEE ; Hyun Ah KIM ; Yeong Wook SONG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Wegener's granulomatosis; Cranial nerve paralysis; Facial palsy

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis is a serious multi-systemic disease pathologically characterized by necrotizing vasculitis and granuloma. Although nervous system is one of major target organs in Wegener's granulomatosis, the involvement of facial nerve was rarely reported as an initial symptom. We experienced a female patient with Wegener's granulomatosis presenting otitis media, sinusitis and right facial palsy. Nasal mucosal biopsy revealed necrotizing vasculitis with granuloma formation, which was consistent with Wegener's granulomatosis. During steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy, she developed paralysis of abducens nerve. Methyprednisolone pulse therapy was administrated with symptomatic improvement. We describe a case of Wegener's granulomatosis presenting facial nerve palsy.