title: Polyarteritis nodosa and the antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: We report a case of biopsy-proven polyarteritis nodosa (classic type in association with the antiphospholipid syndrome. Medium-sized arteriopathy was confirmed on visceral angiography. Elevated anticardiolipin antibodies were detected before initiating therapy with methylprednisolone and IV pulse cyclophosphamide. Rapid subsidence of symptoms correlated with a gradual normalisation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. After 6 months of therapy anticardiolipin antibodies were within normal limits. Only one similar case has been reported so far.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schoonjans
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Vlem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weyers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Keyser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Praet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Versieck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elewaut
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone