title: Polyarteritis nodosa complicated by catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis of small- and medium-sized vessels, characterized by vascular aneurysms that can lead to ischemia and infarction. We present the case of a patient with classic polyarteritis nodosa in abdominal organs who additionally demonstrated antitreponemal and antiphospholipid antibodies, resulting in a severe cerebral thrombosis. This case highlights: 1. The potential for false-positive syphilis serology in PAN patients, and 2. The rare coexistence of polyarteritis nodosa and the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
authors.affiliation: From the *Rheumatic Diseases Division and the †Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Bobby Kwanghoon
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kasturi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaganti
authors.forename: Saleemah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahmi
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reimold