Granulomatosis with polyangiitis causing subglottic stenosis—two cases and their management

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is characterised by vasculitis of small and medium sized blood vessels and granulomatous lesions of the respiratory tract. The aetiology is unclear, however it is thought to be due to an autoimmune process with about 92% of patients with the disease being antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) positive. Patients normally present in early adulthood, more commonly in the winter months. Seventy percent of patients with GPA present with ear, nose or throat symptoms. These include nasal congestion, crusting, epistaxis, nasal septal perforation and nasal saddle deformity. Lesions in the airway can lead to subglottic stenosis with resultant airway obstruction. Treatment of the disease complicated by subglottic stenosis is not straightforward and the benefits and risks of options including medical and surgical management need to be weighed up and tailored to each individual case. We describe two cases of GPA complicated by airway obstruction due to subglottic stenosis and their management.