[Polyarteritis nodosa revealed by acute cholecystitis].
Acute cholecystitis revealing polyarteritis nodosa is classic but rare in adulthood. We report two cases observed during childhood.


METHODS
The association of a persistent inflammatory syndrome, positive antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies and of a vasculitis with fibrinoïd necrosis led to the diagnosis in two pediatric patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa is difficult and often delayed. Cholecystectomy can help to such a diagnosis in the presence of acute cholecystitis.
Levrat
V
V
Unité d'hépatogastroentérologie pédiatrique, hôpital Edouard-Herriot, 69437 Lyon cedex 03, France. viralb@wanadoo.fr
Villard
F
F
Broustal
E
E
Le Gall
C
C
Bouvier
R
R
Lachaux
A
A
D002648:Child; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*