HWN Suggests

Polyarteritis Nodosa – The “Invisible” Visitor

From neurologists to rheumatologists and otologists (ok you get the gist, no pun intended, ok maybe it was) and numerous GPs & ER teams, innumerable breakdowns and 8 major flare-ups, is how I got to the Polyarteritis nodosa diagnosis.

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Articles of Interest

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa

Although identical skin lesions are common in systemic PAN, cutaneous PAN should be considered a separate disease and distinguished from systemic PAN, as the clinical course and management of these conditions differ from each other.

Diagnosing Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa After 17 Years Of Failed Wound Care

The initial presentation of the disorder usually involves the skin or the peripheral nerves. Skin manifestations can include livedoid purpura, subcutaneous nodules and necrotic ulcers. Neurological signs include mononeuritis multiplex, such as wrist or foot drop.

My Journey with Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)

This disease is rare so I have lots of trouble getting help from most doctors. Some have never seen it before. That’s very frustrating and irritating because I go to these professionals for help and I end up teaching them all about PAN.

My Notes for USMLE

Systemic vasculitis, but respects the LUNGS

My Vasculitis Awareness Month story

As I experienced all these weird symptoms, I just knew there was something really wrong but it was not easy getting answers from doctors.

Polyarteritis nodosa revisited: a review of historical approaches, subphenotypes and a research agenda

The terminology of peri/polyarteritis nodosa and the corresponding patient groups has changed over the last two centuries. However, there is no uniform definition of PAN associated with a condition exhibiting protean and overlapping clinical manifestations, and no specific serologic diagnostic tests have been developed.

Polyarteritis Nodosa: A Rare Form of Presentation

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of medium caliber arteries in which the involvement of small vessels is not typical (that is glomerulonephritis is unusual), and is not associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). It affects similarly both sexes and the most frequent age of presentation oscillates between the fifth and sixth decade of life. Although PAN is considered a primary vasculitis, there are forms associated with viral infections, mainly hepatitis B virus.

Resources

Autoimmune Association

Most cases occur in the 4th or 5th decade of life, although it can occur at any age. PAN most commonly affects vessels related to the skin, joints, peripheral nerves, gastrointestinal tract, heart, eyes, and kidneys.

Vasculitis Awarness Ireland

For classical PAN, high dose steroids and cyclophosphamide are often used to get the inflammation under control. Once under control treatment is often continued for 12 months using steroids and other immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, and then can be stopped in some patients. Disease relapses do occur and in some cases longer duration of remission treatment may be needed.

No Brainer School

Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis affecting medium-sized arteries with necrotizing inflammation leading to aneurysm formation. PAN is more common in middle-aged men with a male : female ratio of 2:1.

Physiopedia

Polyarteritis nodosa is clinically similiar to many diseases such as hepatitis B and C infections, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Kawaski disease, hypersensitivity angitis, as well as Cogan's syndrome.

RheumaKnowledge

PAN is systemic vasculitis of uncertain etiology. Although there is no consistent infectious cause; PAN has been associated with hepatitis B antigenemia, especially in intravenous substance abusers. Hepatitis C has been described in both PAN and microscopic polyangiitis.

Semantic Scholar

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is regarded rightly as the grandfather of the vasculitides. In this Grand Rounds, the case of a 30-year-old man with a 12-year illness is described.

StatPearls

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis first described in 1866 by Adolph Kussmaul and Rudolph Maier.[1] It typically affects medium-sized arterial vessels but may affect small-sized arterial vessels. Unlike other small-sized arterial vessel vasculitides, polyarteritis nodosa is not typically associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA).