title: Outcome of polyarteritis nodosa and Churg-Strauss syndrome. An analysis of twenty-five patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcome in patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) followed up at a single center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective data review of 13 patients with PAN and 12 patients with CSS who were followed up at a vasculitis clinic. Outcome measures included a global damage index, disability and pain dimensions of the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and mortality rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with patients with CSS, patients with PAN had a significantly higher mean damage index score (5.15 versus 2.42; P = 0.011), a higher disability score (1.09 versus 0.16; P = 0.007), and a higher pain score (1.04 versus 0.01; P = 0.017). Patients with PAN had more relapses (relative risk = 5.07; P < 0.000) and a higher mortality rate (31%) compared with patients with CSS (8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAN and CSS differ in their morbidity and mortality; therefore, they should be considered as distinct clinical entities.
authors.affiliation: Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu-Shakra
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewtas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Badley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keystone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome