POLYARTERITIS-NODOSA AND THE ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

We describe a case of classical polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) with viscer al aneurysms presenting with renal infarction and hypertension. The fe male patient also had all the laboratory features of the antiphospholi pid syndrome (APS) and 2 months into her illness developed a large ili ofemoral thrombosis, She responded well to immunosuppressive therapy a nd anticoagulation. Repeat arteriogram shelved regression of the visce ral aneurysms. The link between PAN and APS, and the therapeutic dilem ma posed by this association, are discussed.