title: Polyarteritis nodosa and drug abuse: is there a connection?
abstract: Drug abuse has been controversially linked to polyarteritis nodosa. A 28-year-old man with a history of drug abuse with inhaled heroin presented with an enigmatic illness consisting of refractory fever, bilateral pleural effusions, migratory polyarthritis, and a leukaemoid reaction. An abdominal angiography confirmed the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa, and treatment with both prednisone and cyclophosphamide resulted in significant clinical and laboratory improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine B, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yinnon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003932:Heroin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone