Polyarteritis nodosa.
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic disease, but variants are cutaneous PAN and single-organ disease. Histologic confirmation of vasculitis in medium-sized arteries is desirable, and biopsies should be obtained from the symptomatic and least invasive sites. Angiography can show multiple microaneurysms in the viscera. Treatment includes high-dose corticosteroids, which are combined with immunosuppressive agents when internal organs are involved and with life-threatening disease. Once remission is achieved, maintenance agents are initiated. PAN is becoming a rare disease. International collaborative efforts are under way to establish better diagnostic and classification for all vasculitides, including PAN.
Department of Rheumatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. Electronic address: lindsy.forbess@cshs.org.
Lindsy
L
Forbess
Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Serguei
S
Bannykh
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000792:Angiography; D001706:Biopsy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
Medium vessel vasculitis; Polyarteritis nodosa; Systemic necrotizing vasculitis; Vasculitis