Polyarteritis Nodosa Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Dana Jacobs-Kosmin, MD; Chief Editor: Herbert S Diamond, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 28, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

The diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) can be difficult because of the spectrum of clinical manifestations and the rarity of the disease. Mimics of vasculitis, including processes that lead to a loss of vascular integrity and blood-vessel occlusion, alternate forms of vasculitis, and syndromes associated with vasculitis should be considered.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA; formerly called microscopic polyarteritis) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; the disease formerly known as Wegener granulomatosis [WG]) are ANCA-associated systemic vasculitides that have some features similar to those of classic PAN, with the additional involvement of renal glomeruli and pulmonary capillaries.

A clear distinction should be made between limited disease versus systemic disease and idiopathic PAN versus hepatitis B–related PAN, because differences exist in the prognosis and treatment.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Dana Jacobs-Kosmin, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College

Dana Jacobs-Kosmin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

J Mark Jackson, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine/Dermatology, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

J Mark Jackson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Acne and Rosacea Society, American Medical Association, Kentucky Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: abbott, Amgen, Centocor Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Herbert S Diamond, MD  Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Chairman Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Western Pennsylvania Hospital

Herbert S Diamond, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Merck Ownership interest Other; Smith Kline Ownership interest Other; Zimmer Ownership interest Other

Additional Contributors

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine; President and CEO, Space City Associates of Nephrology

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, and National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: South Shore DaVita Dialysis Center Ownership interest

Bruce A Baethge, MD, Faculty, Texas A&M Medical School

Bruce A Baethge, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha; American College of Physicians; American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kanwarpreet Baweja, MD, Fellow in Nephrology, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Texas Health Science Center

Kanwarpreet Baweja, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Society of Nephrology, Medical Council of India, and National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steve Chung, MD, Director, Clinical Epilepsy Research, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Residency Director, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute

Steven Chung, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Medical Association, California Medical Assocation, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Elliot Goldberg, MD Dean of the Western Pennsylvania Clinical Campus, Professor, Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine

Elliot Goldberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

B Mark Keegan, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic; Master's Faculty, Mayo Graduate School; Consultant, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester

B Mark Keegan, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, and Minnesota Medical Association

Disclosure: Novartis Consulting fee; Bionest Consulting fee

Howard S Kirshner, MD, Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vice Chairman, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Director, Vanderbilt Stroke Center; Program Director, Stroke Service, Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital; Consulting Staff, Department of Neurology, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Howard S Kirshner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Neurological Association, American Society of Neurorehabilitation, National Stroke Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Tennessee Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Carlos J Lozada, MD Director of Rheumatology Fellowship Program, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School of Medicine

Carlos J Lozada, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Amgen Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Christopher Luzzio, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

Christopher Luzzio, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Vasanta P Weiss, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Nephrology, University of Virginia Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Nonspecific, firm, tender subcutaneous nodules without livedo reticularis and/or systemic involvement may be the first sign of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN).
Tender, hyperpigmented, firm subcutaneous nodules with a background of livedo reticularis common in cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN).
Tender erythematous nodules with central "punched out" ulcerations common in cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN).
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is characterized by fibrinoid necrosis of the arterial wall with a leukocytic infiltrate. In this slide, a large, pale occlusion of a muscular artery can be seen. Within this collagenous tissue is a leukocytic infiltrate, which is the hallmark of PAN. Courtesy of Urbana Atlas of Pathology.
 
 
 
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