title: Muscle involvement in polyarteritis nodosa: report of a patient presenting clinically as polymyositis and review of the literature.
abstract: Muscle symptoms, especially myalgias, appear to be common in patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). We describe a patient who presented with a generalized myopathy and elevated creatine kinase (CK) suggestive of polymyositis. However, subsequent exploratory surgery for an acute abdomen revealed colonic perforation on the basis of PAN. A review of the literature suggests that generalized myopathy and elevated CK are uncommon features of PAN. A muscle biopsy can be a helpful procedure to secure the diagnosis in patients with PAN especially those with myopathies. Strategies for optimizing the choice of biopsy site are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahmoush
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
mesh_terms: D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase