Research Projects Regarding Wegener Granulomatosis (WG) and Microscopic Polyarteritis (MPA)

The kidney diseases in WG and MPA are identical, and most commonly consist of a pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. SADRC-WNY has established studies to examine how and why the kidneys are involved in diseases that clearly are initiated in the upper and lower airway, and lack immune complexes that might be trapped in the kidneys. Two types of studies are being performed:

1. Immunohistochemical and in-situ PCR studies are being utilized to determine which inflammatory cells are causing the damage, and what mediators they are producing.
2. A combination of flow cytometry and in-situ PCR is being utilized to determine whether the same cells are involved in causing organ damage in the lungs, skin and kidneys.