Chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis in a patient with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and fatal Wegener granulomatosis

PURPOSE: To describe a case of chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis in a patient with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and Wegener granulomatosis. METHODS: Observational case report. A retrospective study. RESULTS: An 80-year-old man presented with chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis, peripheral corneal thinning, and Wegener granulomatosis, which were diagnosed by his referring physician based on clinical (recurrent epi, staxis, sinus congestion) and histopathologic features of nasal mucosa (granulomatous inflammation, vasculitis). A conjunctival biopsy performed by us disclosed features of active Wegener granulomatosis and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, which indicate lack of control of both diseases with methotrexate treatment. The patient died of pulmonary complications from Wegener granulomatosis 1 week after our evaluation. CONCLUSION: Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and Wegener granulomatosis are both potentially fatal autoimmune diseases. Ocular involvement in Wegener granulomatosis indicates poor control of the underlying systemic condition and is a marker for active vasculitis, which indicates the need for treatment with cyclophosphamide. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.