A CASE OF MICROSCOPIC POLYARTERITIS-NODOSA WITH INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH STEROID PULSE THERAPY AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AGENTS

We report a patient with microscopic polyarteritis nodosa (mPN) and in terstitial pneumonia, who was subjected to investigation by bronchoalv eolar lavage (BAL), thoracic computerized tomography (CT) and gallium- 67 citrate (Ga-67) scintigraphy before and after administration of glu cocorticoid and immunosuppressive agents. Renal function, renal histol ogy, interstitial inflammation of the lung, and pulmonary function and histology improved cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA), which decreas ed with decreasing disease activity after starting treatment. Intersti tial pneumonia may be associated with pulmonary capillaritis due to mP N. prednisolone pulse therapy followed by oral prednisolone and immuno suppressive agents is considered to be an effective therapeutic strate gy far combined mPN and interstitial pneumonia.