title: [Digestive manifestations of periarteritis nodosa in a series of 120 cases].
abstract: In a series of 120 patients with periarteritis nodosa (PAN), 50 had gastrointestinal manifestations; 34 had transient abdominal pain which regressed spontaneously or in response to corticosteroid therapy and required no further investigation. Thirty one more serious episodes occurred in the remaining 26 patients. Eight of these were in fact the initial signs of PAN and 13 required laparotomy. There were 20 episodes of abdominal pain (peritonitis: 9, pancreatitis: 4, acute cholecystitis: 2, duodenal ulcer: 3, intestinal infarction: 1, unexplained pain without diagnosis at laparotomy: 1) and 11 of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (melaena or hematemesis: 4; hematochezia: 5). Clinical and biological features of patients with and without gastrointestinal manifestation were not significantly different except for cardiac involvement which was significantly more frequent (p less than 0.05) in the second group. Corrected survival rates were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in patients with gastrointestinal manifestations. These results show that, in patients with PAN, digestive manifestations, particularly perforations, carried a poor prognosis. Nevertheless exploratory laparotomy and surgery unrelated to PAN (eg appendicectomy) were well tolerated.
authors.forename: D u
authors.initials: Du
authors.lastname: Le Thi Huong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blétry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godeau
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
vernacular_title: Les manifestations digestives de la périartérite noueuse dans une série de 120 cas.