Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare, long-term autoimmune disorder that forms granulomas and inflames small and medium blood vessels, most often affecting the upper respiratory tract, lungs, and kidneys. Its cause is unknown, though microbes such as bacteria and viruses, along with genetic factors, have been implicated. It commonly begins with nosebleeds, a stuffy and crusty nose, and inflammation of the eye's uveal layer, and can go on to damage the heart, lungs, and kidneys severely enough to be fatal. The disease was long known as Wegener's granulomatosis but was renamed in 2011 because of its namesake's association with the Nazi Party; with modern treatment, five-year survival now exceeds 80 percent, a marked improvement over its historical prognosis.