Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (GPA) Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is GPA?

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis or GPA is a serious condition which is known to cause tissue damage.

Formerly referred as Wegener’s granulomatosis, GPA is a systemic disorder which involves both granulomatosis and polyangiitis. A systemic disorder entails inflammation that is present in the entire body.

It is a form of vasculitis, which may affect lungs, respiratory system, kidneys, ears, throat, skin and other organs.

Those whose kidney, brain or gut is not affected in GPA are said to suffer from limited GPA. However, the word ‘limited’ has misleading connotations since it seems to imply that the condition is not serious when in reality the other symptoms may be dangerous enough to prove to be fatal.

A rare disease, GPA can occur in any age. However, it generally occurs to those between the age of 40 and 50.

In recent years, the awareness regarding GPA has grown immensely. This has lead to better diagnoses which may prevent organ failure.

The presence of effective treatment also ensures a relatively normal life for those affected.

Causes Of GPA:

The exact cause of GPA is yet unknown. According to research, its development is linked to infections and other inflammation causing events.

Symptoms Of GPA:

The following signs and symptoms may be exhibited:

arthritic joint pain
blood in urine (which may or may not be indicated by a change in urine color)
cough (with or without the presence of blood)
fever
inflammation of the ear with hearing problems
inflammation of the eye with vision problems
lack of energy
loss of appetite
nasal membrane ulcerations and crusting
night sweats
numbness of limbs
pleuritis (inflammation of the lining of the lung)
rash and/or skin sores
saddle-nose deformity
weakness, fatigue
weight loss

Diagnoses Of GPA:

GPA can be diagnosed via:

Blood tests, to look for signs of inflammation
Urine tests, to reveal whether urine contains red blood cells or has too much protein
Chest imaging, to detect which blood vessels and organs are affected.
CT scan
MRI
X-ray