POLYARTERITIS-NODOSA WITH RUPTURE OF SPLE EN AND KIDNEY - DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC POSSIBILITIES

Classic polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis affecting med ium- and small-sized arteries. Renal involvement from aneurysm formati on is common and can result in perirenal or intrarenal bleeding. The g old standard of diagnostic procedures is the arteriography. Treatment of choice is a combination of steroids and cyclophosphamide, but in th e case of severe hemorrhage surgery is mandatory. Patients with PAN ne ed at least 2 years of long term therapy; repeated arteriography will establish the efficacy of therapy.