[Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa and Crohn's disease: An association not to be ignored].
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is an entity which needs to be acknowledged, since it can have a spontaneously adverse outcome. We report two cases of CPAN associated with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
The first patient was suffering from Crohn's disease for 9 years when she was referred for a necrotic toe. A diagnosis of necrotizing angeitis was confirmed by histological examination of a skin biopsy. Despite systemic corticosteroids, the lesions became more severe, requiring immunosuppressive treatment. The second patient was a female patient referred with forefoot ischemia. Cutaneous histology confirmed the diagnosis of necrotizing angeitis that responded favourably to corticosteroid treatment. The patient had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 months previously.


CONCLUSIONS
CPAN differed from systemic PAN by the absence of visceral involvement. Its association with Crohn's disease, although uncommon, must be recognized as it affects treatment and monitoring.
Magnant
J
J
Service de médecine interne B, hôpital Bretonneau, université François-Rabelais, CHRU de Tours, 2 bis, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France.
Lhommet
C
C
Machet
L
L
Machet
M-C
MC
Guilmot
J-L
JL
Diot
E
E
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents