Korean J Dermatol.  2015 Feb;53(2):144-147.

Polyarteritis Nodosa Associated with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Kim JH
• Shin MK

Abstract

Classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) involves small-to-medium-sized muscular arteries in multiple organ systems. It presents in combination with skin diseases, myalgia, hypertension, abdominal pain, or neuropathy. Although PAN involves the muscles, kidneys, nerves, and gastrointestinal tract, lung involvement presenting as an interstitial pulmonary fibrosis has rarely been reported. A 71-year-old man presented to our clinic complaining of weakness in his lower legs and painful subcutaneous nodules that began to develop a fortnight before he visited the clinic. He had been diagnosed with mononeuritis multiplex, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, and a cerebral infarction in 2006. All of the preexisting diseases had become aggravated when his lower leg pain began. Laboratory tests for cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), perinuclear-ANCA, and other autoimmune markers were within the normal limits. A biopsy showed mononuclear infiltrations with fibrinoid necrosis involving the medium-sized arteries. Computed tomographic scanning of the chest revealed an increase in parenchymal ground-glass opacity. The histological findings, laboratory tests, and the clinical history were consistent with PAN that was associated with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. We report this rare case of PAN associated with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Keyword

Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis; Polyarteritis nodosa

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Aged
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
Arteries
Biopsy
Cerebral Infarction
Cytoplasm
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Hypertension
Kidney
Leg
Lung
Mononeuropathies
Muscles
Myalgia
Necrosis
Polyarteritis Nodosa*
Preexisting Condition Coverage
Pulmonary Fibrosis*
Skin Diseases
Thorax
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic