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Diseases

Polyarteritis nodosa

OVERVIEW

  • Highlights & Basics
  • Images

DIAGNOSIS

  • Diagnostic Approach
  • Risk Factors
  • History & Exam
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Criteria
  • Screening

TREATMENT

  • Tx Approach
  • Tx Options
  • Emerging Tx
  • Prevention

FOLLOW-UP

  • Overview
  • Complications

REFERENCES

  • Citations
  • Guidelines
  • Credits

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Patient Instructions

Highlights & Basics

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Key Highlights
  • Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis that affects only medium-sized vessels (i.e., small and medium-sized arteries). 

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related PAN has become very rare since the introduction of effective immunization programs against the virus.

  • Both non HBV-related PAN and HBV-related PAN are differentiated from the other small- and medium-vessel vasculitides by the absence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, and by confirmation that small vessels (i.e., arterioles, capillaries, venules) are not involved.

  • Angiography typically demonstrates microaneurysms and focal narrowing in medium-sized blood vessels.

  • Pathology is characterized by focal and segmental transmural necrotizing inflammation with fibrinoid necrosis in medium-sized vessels.

Pathology specimen of a medium-sized muscular artery showing transmural inflammation
Pathology specimen of a medium-sized muscular artery showing transmural inflammation
From the collection of Dr Raashid Luqmani

Quick Reference

  • History & Exam

    • Key Factors

      • Other Factors

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      • Diagnostics Tests

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        • Treatment Options

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          Definition

          Epidemiology

          Etiology

          Pathophysiology

          content by BMJ Group
          Last updated

          Images

          • American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for PAN

            American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for PAN

          • Renal angiogram showing aneurysms, a classical feature of PAN

            Renal angiogram showing aneurysms, a classical feature of PAN

          • Renal angiogram showing aneurysms and microaneurysms

            Renal angiogram showing aneurysms and microaneurysms

          • A purpuric rash is a common feature

            A purpuric rash is a common feature

          • Skin ulcers in the lower limbs are a common manifestation of PAN

            Skin ulcers in the lower limbs are a common manifestation of PAN

          • Digital gangrene from medium vessel vasculitis

            Digital gangrene from medium vessel vasculitis

          • Large skin ulcer from a patient with PAN

            Large skin ulcer from a patient with PAN

          • Vesiculo-bullous skin rash with necrosis

            Vesiculo-bullous skin rash with necrosis

          • Mesenteric angiogram showing small and micro aneurysms

            Mesenteric angiogram showing small and micro aneurysms

          • Pathology specimen of a medium-sized muscular artery showing transmural inflammation

            Pathology specimen of a medium-sized muscular artery showing transmural inflammation

          • Biopsy specimen showing florid transmural inflammation of a small artery

            Biopsy specimen showing florid transmural inflammation of a small artery

          Citations

            Key Articles

            • Masi AT, Hunder GG, Lie JT, et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic granulomatosis and angiitis). Arthritis Rheum. 1990;33:1094-1100.[Abstract]

            • Mahr A, Guillevin L, Poissonnet M, et al. Prevalences of polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome in a French urban multiethnic population in 2000: a capture-recapture estimate. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51:92-99.[Abstract]

            • Colmegna I, Maldonado-Cocco JA. Polyarteritis nodosa revisited. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2005;7:288-296.[Abstract]

            • Mukhtyar C, Guillevin L, Cid MC, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of primary small and medium vessel vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009 Mar;68(3):310-7[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Ntatsaki E, Carruthers D, Chakravarty K, et al; BSR and BHPR Standards, Guidelines and Audit Working Group. BSR and BHPR guideline for the management of adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2014 Dec;53(12):2306-9.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Jayne D, Rasmussen N, Andrassy K, et al. A randomized trial of maintenance therapy for vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies. N Engl J Med. 2003 Jul 3;349(1):36-44.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • De Groot K, Rasmussen N, Bacon PA, et al. Randomized trial of cyclophosphamide versus methotrexate for induction of remission in early systemic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Aug;52(8):2461-9.[Abstract][Full Text]

            Referenced Articles

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            • 26. Erhardt A, Sagir A, Guillevin L, et al. Successful treatment of hepatitis B virus associated polyarteritis nodosa with a combination of prednisolone, alpha-interferon and lamivudine. J Hepatol. 2000;33:677-683.[Abstract]

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            • 36. Pagnoux C, Mahr A, Cohen P, et al. Presentation and outcome of gastrointestinal involvement in systemic necrotizing vasculitides: analysis of 62 patients with polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis-associated vasculitis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2005;84:115-128.[Abstract]

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            • 63. Guillevin L, Lhote F, Cohen P, et al. Corticosteroids plus pulse cyclophosphamide and plasma exchanges versus corticosteroids plus pulse cyclophosphamide alone in the treatment of polyarteritis nodosa and Churg-Strauss syndrome patients with factors predicting poor prognosis: a prospective, randomized trial in sixty-two patients. Arthritis Rheum. 1995;38:1638-1645.[Abstract]

            • 64. Guillevin L, Cohen P, Mahr A, et al. Treatment of polyarteritis nodosa and microscopic polyangiitis with poor prognosis factors: a prospective trial comparing glucocorticoids and six or twelve cyclophosphamide pulses in sixty-five patients. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;49:93-100.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 66. Pagnoux C, Mahr A, Hamidou MA, et al. Azathioprine or methotrexate maintenance for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:2790-2803.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 97. Guillevin L, Pagnoux C, Karras A, et al; French Vasculitis Study Group. Rituximab versus azathioprine for maintenance in ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:1771-1780.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 98. Sonomoto K, Miyamura T, Watanabe H, et al. A case of polyarteritis nodosa successfully treated by rituximab. Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi. 2008;31:119-123.[Abstract]

            • 99. Seri Y, Shoda H, Hanata N, et al. A case of refractory polyarteritis nodosa successfully treated with rituximab. Mod Rheumatol. 2015 Mar 12 [Epub ahead of print].[Abstract]

            • 100. Ribeiro E, Cressend T, Duffau P, et al. Rituximab efficacy during a refractory polyarteritis nodosa flare. Case Rep Med. 2009;2009:738293.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 103. American College of Rheumatology. 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guideline for vaccinations in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Feb 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]

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            • 105. Selga D, Mohammad A, Sturfelt G, et al. Polyarteritis nodosa when applying the Chapel Hill nomenclature - a descriptive study on ten patients. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006;45:1276-1281.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 106. Agard C, Mouthon L, Mahr A, et al. Microscopic polyangiitis and polyarteritis nodosa: how and when do they start? Arthritis Rheum. 2003;49:709-715.[Abstract][Full Text]

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