Polyarteritis

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing inflammation of medium and small-sized arteries, which can lead to tissue ischemia and organ damage. It is a rare disease, with an incidence of about 1 in 100,000 people. The cause of PAN is unknown, but it is thought to be related to an immune response to an antigenic stimulus.

Symptoms and signs

The symptoms of PAN can vary widely, depending on which organs are affected. Common symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, fever, and muscle and joint pain. If the disease affects specific organs, other symptoms can occur, such as skin rashes or ulcers (skin involvement), abdominal pain or blood in the stool (gastrointestinal involvement), or neurological symptoms like seizures or stroke (nervous system involvement).

Causes

The exact cause of PAN is unknown, but it is thought to be an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells and tissues. Some cases have been associated with hepatitis B infection, but this is not a consistent finding.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of PAN is based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. A biopsy of an affected organ can confirm the diagnosis. Laboratory tests may show signs of inflammation, such as an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP). Imaging studies, such as angiography, can show characteristic changes in the arteries.

Treatment

Treatment of PAN typically involves high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and immunosuppressive drugs to control the autoimmune response. In cases associated with hepatitis B, antiviral therapy may also be used.

Prognosis

The prognosis of PAN varies widely, depending on the severity of the disease and the organs involved. With treatment, the 5-year survival rate is about 80%.

See also

• Vasculitis
• Autoimmune disease
• Hepatitis B

References

Polyarteritis Resources
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