polyarteritis nodosa

Last reviewed 01/2018

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a recurrent necrotising vasculitis of medium and small muscular arteries.

  • is a rare multisystem disease characterized by systemic necrotizing arteritis of small- and medium-sized arteries
  • skin, joints, kidneys, gastro- intestinal tract, and peripheral nerves are most commonly involved (1)

Angiography demonstrates multiple aneurysms at vessel bifurcations.

The classic form of PAN does not affect small vessels and does not cause a glomerulonephritis.

Reference:

  • Bonsib SM. Polyarteritis nodosa. Semin Diagn Pathol 2001;18 : 14-23