A 74‐year‐old man with silicosis was admitted to the hospital because of prolonged fever. After referral to internal medicine for persistent fever and renal dysfunction, workup revealed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies () positivity. ...

Published in 2017

Herein, we discuss silica exposure and the risk of ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV), particularly in terms of work‐related diseases. Silica exposure is a notorious risk factor for developing AAV, which is potentially lethal when not identified.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a primary systemic vasculitis commonly known as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV), characterized by inflammation of small‐sized blood vessels and serum positivity of ANCA.

Patients with MPA typically present with pulmonary, kidney, and neurologic manifestations. Although the definitive pathophysiology of MPA is still not fully understood, certain factors such as drugs, bacteria, and dust exposure are known to trigger the development of this disorder.