Early ultrastructural lesions of diphenylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis in Syrian hamsters

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by necrotizing granulomas and vasculitis that may affect any organ. The upper and lower respiratory tract and kidney usually are affected. WG is diagnosed by determination of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA), a highly sensitive and specific test that is particularly important in the early stages to achieve the best prognosis. We describe a case in a 28-year-old man that exemplifies some of the diagnostic features of WG.