Nasal Septal Perforation in Propylthiouracil-Induced Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

Abstract

Here, we present the case of a 29-year-old woman with nasal septal perforation and positive myeloperoxidase- (MPO-) anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). She had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease and had been treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) for 14 months. A biopsy of the nasal septum revealed an infiltration of inflammatory cells, with no evidence of malignancy or granulomatous change. Because of the use of PTU, destructive nasal lesion, and positive MPO-ANCA, she was diagnosed with drug-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and was treated with prednisolone and methotrexate after the cessation of PTU. Although PTU is known to be the medicine that induces drug-induced AAV, the manifestation of nasal septal perforation in drug-induced AAV is poorly identified. This is the rare case of drug-induced AAV which manifested only nasal septal perforation.