title: Microscopic polyarteritis: presentation, pathology and prognosis.
abstract: We have described 34 patients with microscopic polyarteritis, all of whom had clinical evidence of a systemic small vessel vasculitis predominantly affecting the skin and musculoskeletal systems accompanied by a focal necrotising glomerulonephritis with renal impairment. Thirty three patients received immunosuppressive treatment, comprising prednisolone, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange in various combinations. The five-year actuarial patient and kidney survival rates were 65 and 55 per cent respectively, suggesting that aggressive immunosuppressive therapy in these patients is beneficial.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001167:Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine