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Polyarteritis Nodosa
Alternate Names : Periarteritis Nodosa
DefinitionPolyarteritis nodosa is a serious blood vessel disease in which small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged when they are attacked by rogue immune cells.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Polyarteritis nodosa is a disease of unknown cause that affects arteries, the blood vessels which carry oxygenated blood to organs and tissues. It occurs when certain immune cells attack the affected arteries.
The condition affects adults more frequently than children. It damages the tissues supplied by the affected arteries because they don't receive enough oxygen and nourishment without a proper blood supply.
In this disease, symptoms result from damage to affected organs, often the skin, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.
Generalized symptoms include fever, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Muscle aches (myalgia) and joint aches(arthralgia) are common. The skin may show rashes, swelling, ulcers, and lumps (nodular lesions).
Nerve involvement may cause sensory changes with numbness, pain, burning, and weakness. Central nervous system involvement may cause strokes or seizures. Kidney involvement can produce varying degrees of renal failure.
Involvement of the arteries of the heart may cause a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), heart failure, and inflammation of the sack around the heart (pericarditis).
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• Definition
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Symptoms & Signs
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Prevention
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Diagnosis & Tests
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Treatment
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Prognosis
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Acute Kidney Failure
• Heart Attack
• Intestinal Ischemia and Infarction
• Stroke
Tests & Exams
• Biopsy
• CBC
• ESR
• WBC Count
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Appetite - Decreased
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint Pain
• Muscle Aches
• Weakness
• Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 8/2/2002
Reviewed By : Birgit Kovacs, M.D., Immunology Division, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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