Polyarteritis nodosa

Periarteritis nodosa
Last reviewed: July 8, 2012.
Polyarteritis nodosa is a serious blood vessel disease in which small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Polyarteritis nodosa is a disease that affects arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues. The cause is unknown, but it occurs when certain immune cells attack the affected arteries.
More adults than children get this disease. The tissues that are fed by the affected arteries do not get the oxygen and nourishment they need, and become damaged.
People with active hepatitis B and C may develop this disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms are caused by damage to affected organs, often the skin, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.
Symptoms include:
If nerves are affected, you may have numbness, pain, burning, and weakness. Damage to the nervous system may cause strokes or seizures.

Signs and tests

No lab tests are available to diagnose polyarteritis nodosa. You will have a physical examination.
Lab tests that can help confirm the diagnosis include:

Treatment

Treatment uses medications to suppress the immune system, including steroids such as prednisone. Often, similar medications, such as cyclophosphamide, are used.
For polyarteritis nodosa that is related to hepatitis, treatment may involve plasmapheresis and antiviral medicines.

Expectations (prognosis)

Current treatments with steroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system (such ascyclophosphamide) can improve symptoms and the chance of long-term survival.
The most serious complications usually involve the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
Without treatment, the outlook is poor.

Complications