ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener's granulomatosis.

Background: The pathogenic significance of antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Wegener's granulomatosis is controversial. Their presence is influenced by the extent, severity, and activity of the disease at the time of sampling. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of ANCA in patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis and to assess the influence of disease severity on test results.

Solid malignancies among patients in the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial.

Objective: Etanercept is a soluble fusion protein designed to inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF). During the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET), a placebo-controlled trial of etanercept given in addition to standard therapy for remission induction and maintenance, more solid malignancies were observed in the etanercept group than in the group treated with standard therapy alone. This study was undertaken to further explore the potential association between anti-TNF therapy and the development of malignancy in these patients.

Herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients: incidence, timing, and risk factors.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for herpes zoster as well as the incidence and timing of this complication in patients who were treated with immunosuppression because of active Wegener's granulomatosis.

Subjects And Methods: We studied the 180 Wegener's granulomatosis patients in the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET). Herpes zoster events during WGET were documented prospectively.

Brief communication: high incidence of venous thrombotic events among patients with Wegener granulomatosis: the Wegener's Clinical Occurrence of Thrombosis (WeCLOT) Study.

Background: Venous thrombotic events (VTEs) have been observed in Wegener granulomatosis, but the incidence rate is not known.

Objective: To measure the incidence of VTEs in patients with Wegener granulomatosis.

Design: Prospective, observational cohort study.