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Polyarteritis nodosa - Treatment

Alternative Names

Periarteritis nodosa

Treatment:

Treatment involves medications to suppress the immune system, including prednisone and cyclophosphamide.

For polyarteritis nodosa related to hepatitis, treatment may involve plasmapheresis and anti-viral medicines.

Expectations (prognosis):

Current treatments using steroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system (such as cyclophosphamide) can improve symptoms and the chance of long-term survival. The most serious associated conditions generally involve the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Without treatment, the outlook is poor.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve the chance of a good outcome.

Polyarteritis, microscopic on the shin

Microscopic polyarteritis 2

Circulatory system

Reviewed last on: 9/7/2010
Mark James Borigini, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Sergent JS. Polyarteritis and related disorders. In: Harris ED Jr., Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: chap 83.

Stone JH. The systemic vasculitides. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 291.

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