Polyarteritis Nodosa Overview
Learn About Polyarteritis Nodosa
Polyarteritis nodosa is a serious inflammatory blood vessel disease. The small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged.
Periarteritis nodosa; PAN; Systemic necrotizing vasculitis
Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues. The cause of polyarteritis nodosa is unknown. The condition occurs when certain immune cells attack the affected arteries. The tissues that are fed by the affected arteries do not get the oxygen and nourishment they need. Damage occurs as a result.
More adults than children get this disease.
People with active hepatitis B or hepatitis C may develop this disease.
Symptoms are caused by damage to affected organs. The skin, joints, muscles, gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidneys, and nervous system are often affected.
Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint aches
- Muscle aches
- Unintentional weight loss
- Weakness
If nerves are affected, you may have numbness, pain, burning, and weakness. Damage to the nervous system may cause strokes or seizures.
Treatment involves medicines to suppress inflammation and the immune system. These may include steroids, such as prednisone. Similar medicines, such as azathioprine, methotrexate or mycophenolate that allow for reducing the dose of steroids are often used as well. Cyclophosphamide is used in severe cases.
For polyarteritis nodosa related to hepatitis, treatment may involve plasmapheresis and antiviral medicines.
Omer Karadag practices in Ankara, Turkey. Mr. Karadag is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Polyarteritis Nodosa. His top areas of expertise are Polyarteritis Nodosa, Vasculitis, Behcet Disease, Takayasu Arteritis, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
Seza Ozen practices in Ankara, Turkey. Ozen is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Polyarteritis Nodosa. Their top areas of expertise are Familial Mediterranean Fever, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Tissue Biopsy.
Loic Guillevin practices in Paris, France. Mr. Guillevin is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Polyarteritis Nodosa. His top areas of expertise are Necrotizing Vasculitis, Vasculitis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, and Kidney Transplant.
Current treatments with steroids and other medicines that suppress the immune system (such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide) can improve symptoms and the chance of long-term survival.
The most serious complications most often involve the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
Without treatment, the outlook is poor.
Complications may include:
- Heart attack
- Intestinal necrosis and perforation
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve the chance of a good outcome.
There is no known prevention. However, early treatment can prevent some damage and symptoms.
Background: \- Vasculitis is a group of diseases that inflame and damage blood vessels and tissue. It can cause many medical problems. Few tests can diagnose the disease, and none can reliably predict a relapse. Researchers want to study people s genes and follow people over time to see how the disease affects them.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to identify genes that increase the risk of developing vasculitis, a group of severe diseases that feature inflammation of blood vessels. Results of these studies will provide vasculitis researchers with insight into the causes of these diseases and generate new ideas for diagnostic tests and therapies, and will be of great interest to the larger communities of researc...
Published Date: May 09, 2024
Published By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Shanmugam VK. Vasculitis and other uncommon arteriopathies. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.
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