Wegener’s granulomatosis: Clinical aspects

Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) affects at least I in 30,000 people in the United States (I). A retrospective review of hospitalizations in a Norwegian community suggested that prevalence in that country may be as great as I in 20,000 (2). The great majority of patients are adults, although individuals of all age groups can be affected. Most large studies do not reveal significant gender differences (3-5). Although WG is recognized predominantly in Caucasians, it also occurs in persons of all other ethnic and racial backgrounds. African-American patients are relatively underrepresented, comprising less than 8% of patients in the United States, while contributing II % of the general population.