Polyarteritis Nodosa - week 17

Question 1

what is polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 1

Medium vessel vasculitis
necrotising arteritis that leads to aneurysm formation

Question 2

Pathophysiology of polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 2

type III hypersensitivity reaction

Question 3

Epidemiology of polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 3

2x more likely to affect men, age 50-70 years of age

Question 4

Risk factors of polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 4

hepatitis B (most associated) but also hep C and HIV

Question 5

presentation of polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 5

rashes (livedo reticularis)

skin ulceration
peripheral neuropathy
systemic symptoms
articular pain
glomerulonephritis

Question 6

Investigations of polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 6

Angiography - arterial microaneurysms
increased CRP/ESR
Biopsy

Question 7

Management for polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 7

high-dose corticosteroids with cyclophosphamide (chemo drug)

Question 8

Complications for polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 8

Thrombosis
Haemorrhage
Ulcers

Question 9

Prognosis for polyarteritis nodosa?

Answer 9

In untreated cases, it is associated with a poor prognosis
Hepatitis B-associated disease has a worse prognosis