Polyarteritis Nodosa
Wang L. Cheung, MD, PhD
Key Facts
Terminology
Vasculitis of medium- and small-sized blood vessels
Clinical Issues
Livedo reticularis with ulcers
Painful nodules in lower extremities
Systemic symptoms: Weight loss, fever, heart failure, abdominal pain
Microscopic Pathology
Vasculitis of medium-sized vessels
Top Differential Diagnoses
Nodular vasculitis
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD)
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV)
Microscopic polyangiitis
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegene)
 Polyarteritis nodosa presents with purpuric plaques  over the lower legs and livedo reticularis  over the ankle. This woman had the localized cutaneous variety. |
 PAN histologically demonstrates vasculitis of a medium-sized blood vessel  located in the deep dermis. |
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
Synonyms
Periarteritis nodosa
Panarteritis nodosa
Kussmaul-Maier disease
Definitions
Vasculitis of medium- and small-sized blood vessels
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
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