title: Rare and unusual case of polyarteritis nodosa involving the gastrointestinal tract leading to bowel gangrene.
abstract: Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotising vasculitis preferentially targeting medium-sized arteries and not related with glomerulonephritis or small vessel involvement. Clinical manifestations of PAN are multisystem. The gastrointestinal, renal, cardiac, musculoskeletal, skin and central nervous systems may be involved. The aetiology remains unknown, and the ensuing vasculitis may lead to aneurysm formation and thrombosis in any organs of the body with resultant ischaemia. PAN of the intestines is a relatively common manifestation of this disease but rarely causes bowel ischaemia resulting in necrosis. Here we report a case of a young Chinese patient who presented with an acute abdomen requiring surgery and made good recovery post operatively. He remains free of symptoms while on steroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Arvind Vashdev
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Jagwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nik Qisti
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruhi Fadzlyana
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jailani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Andee Dzulkarnaen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4826-9725
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Zakaria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D002432:Cecum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome