Chronic polyarthritis as the first manifestation of childhood systemic polyarteritis nodosa / Poliartrite crônica como primeira manifestação de poliarterite nodosa sistêmica pediátrica

ABSTRACT Arthritis has been reported as an acute pattern, generally evanescent with oligoarthritis, mostly affecting knees and ankles in childhood systemic polyarteritis nodosa. However, chronic polyarthritis with morning stiffness mimicking juvenile idiopathic arthritis has not been reported. We describe the case of a 4-year old girl who had additive and chronic polyarthritis with edema, tenderness, pain on motion and morning stiffness for 2 months. After 45 days, she also presented painful subcutaneous nodules and erythematous-violaceous lesions in the extensor region of upper and lower limbs. She was admitted to university hospital due to high fever, malaise, myalgia, anorexia, loss of weight (1kg), painful skin lesions and severe functional disability. She was bedridden by chronic polyarthritis with limitation on motion. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were greater than 95th percentile for height. Urine protein/creatinine ratio was 0.39g/day, and immunological tests were negative. Anti-streptolysin O was 1,687UI/mL. Skin biopsy revealed necrotizing vasculitis in medium- and small-sized vessels compatible with polyarteritis nodosa. Therefore, we had the diagnosis of systemic polyarteritis nodosa. Prednisone 2mg/kg/day was administered with complete resolution of skin lesions and arthritis, and improvement of proteinuria (0.26g/day) after 15 days. The diagnosis of childhood systemic polyarteritis nodosa should be considered for patients with chronic polyarthritis associated to cutaneous vasculitis triggered by streptococcal infection.

RESUMO Na poliarterite nodosa sistêmica pediátrica, a artrite caracteriza-se pelo padrão agudo, geralmente evanescente, com oligoartrite, e afeta principalmente joelhos e tornozelos. No entanto, a poliartrite crônica com rigidez matinal e simulando artrite idiopática juvenil ainda não foi relatada. Descrevemos o caso de uma menina de 4 anos que apresentou poliartrite crônica aditiva com edema, dor à palpação e movimento, e rigidez matinal por 2 meses. Após 45 dias, também apresentou nódulos subcutâneos dolorosos e lesões eritêmato-violáceas na região extensora dos membros superiores e inferiores. Foi internada no hospital universitário por conta de febre alta, mal-estar, mialgia, anorexia, perda de peso (1kg), lesões de pele muito dolorosas e incapacidade funcional grave. Estava restrita ao leito devido à poliartrite crônica com limitação do movimento. Pressões sistólica e diastólica foram maiores que percentil 95 para altura. Relação proteína/creatinina urinária estava 0,39g/dia, e os testes imunológicos foram negativos. Antiestreptolisina O era 1.687UI/mL. A biópsia de pele revelou vasculite necrosante de vasos de pequeno e médio calibre, compatível com poliarterite nodosa. Portanto, foi realizado o diagnóstico de poliarterite nodosa sistêmica. Foi administrada prednisona 2mg/kg/dia com resolução completa das lesões de pele e da artrite, além de melhora da proteinúria (0,26g/dia) após 15 dias. O diagnóstico de poliarterite nodosa sistêmica pediátrica deve ser considerado em pacientes com poliartrite crônica associado a lesões cutâneas vasculíticas, sendo a infecção estreptocócica um importante fator desencadeante.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa causing refractory skin deformation and pigmentation as sequel

Abstract: A 39-year-old woman presented with prominent and painful livedo reticularis lesions spreading on her upper and lower extremities. Histopathologically, the small-to medium-sized arteries in the deep dermis and subcutis showed necrotizing vasculitis with cellular infiltration, suggesting cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. The serum levels of inflammatory markers normalized with aspirin 100mg/day and prednisolone 10mg/day within 2 months, and there was no other skin or organ involvement over 18 months of follow up. However, serious refractory skin depressions and pigmentation remained after two years of treatment. This suggests the importance of early and aggressive therapy for cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa to prevent unsightly skin sequel, as well as control of disease activity.

An update of neurological manifestations of vasculitides and connective tissue diseases: a literature review / Atualização das manifestações neurológicas das vasculitides e das doenças do tecido conjuntivo: revisão de literatura

Vasculitides comprise a heterogeneous group of autoimmune disorders, occurring as primary or secondary to a broad variety of systemic infectious, malignant or connective tissue diseases. The latter occur more often but their pathogenic mechanisms have not been fully established. Frequent and varied central and peripheral nervous system complications occur in vasculitides and connective tissue diseases. In many cases, the neurological disorders have an atypical clinical course or even an early onset, and the healthcare professionals should be aware of them. The purpose of this brief review was to give an update of the main neurological disorders of common vasculitis and connective tissue diseases, aiming at accurate diagnosis and management, with an emphasis on pathophysiologic mechanisms.

As vasculites são um grupo heterogêneo de doenças autoimunes primárias ou secundárias a uma grande variedade de doenças infecciosas sistêmicas, malignas ou do tecido conjuntivo. Estas últimas são as que ocorrem com mais frequência, porém os mecanismos patogênicos ainda não foram plenamente determinados. Diversas e frequentes complicações do sistema nervoso central e periférico ocorrem nas vasculites e doenças do tecido conjuntivo. Em muitos casos, os distúrbios neurológicos têm evolução clínica atípica ou mesmo início precoce, ao que todos os profissionais de saúde devem estar cientes. O objetivo desta breve revisão foi atualizar os principais distúrbios neurológicos da vasculite comum e das doenças do tecido conjuntivo, visando ao diagnóstico e ao tratamento corretos, com ênfase nos mecanismos fisiopatológicos.

Oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea y plasmaféresis en un paciente con hemorragia pulmonar grave secundaria a poliarteritis nodosa / Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and plasmapheresis in the treatment of severe pulmonary hemorrhage secondary to nodose polyarteritis

Se comunica el caso de un paciente de 23 meses de edad, con hemorragia pulmonar, hipoxemia refractaria, hipertensión arterial y falla renal secundarias a poliarteritis nodosa (PN) que ha requerido asistencia simultánea con soporte cardiopulmonar extracorpóreo (ECMO), plasmaféresis, hemodiafiltración y surfactante exógeno. La PN es una vasculitis autoinmunitaria que afecta los vasos arteriales de pequeño y mediano calibres. La hipoxemia, refractaria al tratamiento con ventilación mecánica convencional y de alta frecuencia oscilatoria, fue sostenida con ECMO mientras se controló la enfermedad autoinmunitaria mediante plasmaféresis y tratamiento inmunosupresor. La combinación de ECMO con plasmaféresis es infrecuente, pero ha sido descripta en relación al trasplante de órganos, intoxicaciones, fallo cardíaco y sepsis. Existen dos casos descriptos en la bibliografía sobre el uso combinado de estas terapéuticas para el tratamiento de hemorragia pulmonar secundaria a vasculitis autoinmunitaria en niños.

We report to simultaneous use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS), plasmapheresis, hemodiafiltration and exogenous surfactant for the treatment of pulmonary hemorrhage, arterial hypertension, and renal failure secondary to nodose polyarteritis (NPA) in a 23-month-old patient. NPA is an autoimmune disease that affects small -and medium- caliber muscular arteries. Hypoxemia refractory to treatment with conventional and high frequency oscillatory ventilation was supported by ECMO while awaiting control of the autoimmune disease through the use of plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive treatment. Although the combination of ECLS with plasmapheresis is rare, it has been described during the management of cases of organ transplant, intoxication, cardiac failure, and sepsis. There are only two previous reports describing the use of this combined therapy for the treatment of pulmonary hemorrhage secondary to autoimmune vasculitis in childhood.

Perirenal hematoma and involvement of the temporal artery in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) / Hematoma perirrenal e envolvimento da artéria temporal em paciente com poliarterite nodosa (PAN)

Descrevemos o caso de um paciente masculino, 48 anos, com poliartralgias e mialgias migratórias, associadas a febre e emagrecimento com dois meses de evolução; um episódio de dor testicular bilateral; e cefaleia unilateral pulsátil com espessamento de artéria temporal esquerda sugerindo arterite temporal. Na evolução, o paciente apresentou hematoma perirrenal esquerdo espontâneo, infartos esplênicos e insuficiência renal aguda oligúrica. Foi tratado com prednisona e ciclofosfamida. Foram realizadas biópsias de artéria temporal esquerda e músculo quadríceps. Os achados clínicos, laboratoriais, radiológicos e intercorrências levaram ao diagnóstico de poliarterite nodosa (PAN).

We report the case of a 48-year-old male with a 2-month history of migratory polyarthralgia, and myalgia associated with fever and weight loss; one episode of bilateral testicular pain; and unilateral pulsatile headache with thickening of the left temporal artery suggestive of temporal arteritis. The patient evolved with spontaneous left perirenal hematoma, splenic infarcts, and oliguric acute renal failure. Treatment included prednisone and cyclophosphamide. The left temporal artery and the quadriceps muscle were biopsied. Clinical, laboratorial, and radiological findings, as well as the intercurrences, led to the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa.

Neuropatia óptica isquêmica anterior e poliarterite nodosa: relato de caso / Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and polyarteritis nodosa: case report

Descreve-se uma paciente com diagnóstico de poliarterite nodosa, em tratamento com citostáticos e corticosteróides que desenvolveu neuropatia óptica isquêmica anterior, uma manifestacão considerada bastante rara para esta doenca.

Intestinal ischamemia in a child due to polyarteritis nodosa: a case report.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare type of childhood vasculitis. We report the case of a 10-year-old boy who was referred to our hospital following an appendicectomy with fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, joint pains and skin rash. Shortly after admission, he developed peritonitis, and an emergency laparotomy revealed ischaemia of the jejunum which required partial resection. Histologic examination of the resected bowel showed features consistent with PAN. He was treated with steroids and cyclophosphamide. Nineteen months later, he is asymptomatic and thriving. PAN should be included in the differential diagnosis if a child with constitutional symptoms also has gastrointestinal complaints or develops an acute abdomen.

Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa Presented with Digital Gangrene: A Case Report

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is an uncommon form of vasculitis involving small and medium sized arteries of unknown etiology. The disease can be differentiated from polyarteritis nodosa by its limitation to the skin and lack of progression to visceral involvement. The characteristic manifestations are subcutaneous nodule, livedo reticularis, and ulceration, mostly localized on the lower extremity. Arthralgia, myalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and constitutional symptoms such as fever and malaise may also be present. We describe a 34-yr-old woman presented with severe ischemic change of the fingertip and subcutaneous nodules without systemic manifestations as an unusual initial manifestation of CPAN. Therapy with corticosteroid and alprostadil induce a moderate improvement of skin lesions. However, necrosis of the finger got worse and the finger was amputated.

Manifestaciones clínicas de la granulomatosis de Wegener y la poliangeítis microscópica en Santiago-Chile, 1990-2001 / Clinical features of Wegener granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis in Chilean patients

Background: Systemic vasculitis are a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessel walls. The etiology is not known, but geographic and environmental factors are implicated. Aim: To describe the clinical features of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) in a Chilean cohort of patients. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of 123 patients with the diagnosis of systemic vasculitis (65 MPA and 58 WG), seen from 1990 to 2001. The diagnosis were made based on the American College of Rheumatology and Chapel Hill criteria. Results: The mean follow-up for MPA was 15 months (1-120) and for WG, 20 months (1-120). The median age (years) at diagnosis for MPA was 61 (19-82) and WG 50 (20-82). Gender distribution was similar in both groups (male: 68percent and 57percent respectively).The main clinical features in the MPA group were renal involvement (68percent), peripheral nervous system involvement (57percent), pulmonary hemorrhage (28percent), and skin disease (32percent). In the WG group were alveolar hemorrhage (62percent), renal involvement (78percent), paranasal sinus involvement (57percent), and ocular disease (26percent). In both, creatinine levels above 2.0 mg/dl were associated with a higher mortality (p< 0.01). ANCA by immunofluorescence was performed in 56 MPA patients (75percent had pANCA, 4percent had cANCA and 21percent were ANCA negative) and in 55 WG patients (17percent had pANCA, 79percent had cANCA and 4percent were ANCA negative). Global mortality was 18percent and 17percent respectively, and the most common causes of death were infections. Conclusions: The clinical features of our patients are similar to other published data. In our WG and MPA patients the main predictor for death was a serum creatinine above 2 mg/dl.

Seckel syndrome with polyarteritis nodosa.

Seckel syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with a typical "bird-headed" appearance. It could affect many organ systems but renal involvement is uncommon. Polyarteritis nodosa is systemic vasculitic disorder which also involves kidneys. We report a case of Seckel syndrome in a 9 year-old boy with renal involvement due to polyarteritis nodosa. According to the literature, this is the first report of polyarteritis nodosa in Seckel syndrome.

Extracranial head and neck circulation aneurysms in a case of polyarteritis nodosa.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare systemic necrotising medium vessel vasculitis. The hallmark of this condition is aneurysms which are seen in visceral arteries. Aneurysms of extracranial neck and head vessels are rare. We describe a case of PAN who had such aneurysms together with characteristic aneurysms in the mesenteric circulation.

Hepatitis B-associated Polyarteritis Nodosa and Hypertensive Encephalopathy

The case of a two-year old boy with hypertensive encephalopathy to Hepatitis B-associated polyarteritis nodosa is presented. Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare condition in children and its association with Hepatitis B viral infection is also rare

Manifestações neurológicas da poliarterite nodosa: aspectos etiológicos, imunopatogênicos, clínicos e terapêuticos / Neurologic symptoms of Polyarteritis nodosa: etiology, immunopathology and therapeutic

A poliarterite nodosa (PAN) é uma vasculite necrotizante sistêmica que afeta artérias de pequeno e médio calibre e que tem grande variedade de formas clínicas, dependendo do território vascular comprometido, gravidade e distribuição das lesões dos vasos. O processo imunopatogênico determinante é o de lesão induzida por imunocomplexo. O diagnóstico correto advém da integração dos achados clínicos, laboratoriais e de imagem. A terapêutica baseia-se na imunoexpressão com o uso de corticoesteróides e agentes citotóxicos

Infarto agudo del miocardio con coronarias normales como primera manifestación de poliarteritis nudosa. Reporte de un caso / Acute myocardial infraction with normal coronary arteries as a first manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa. a case report

Paciente del sexo masculino de treinta y cuatro años de edad en aparente buena salud, presentó infarto agudo del miocardio (IAM), Killip II con arterias coronarias normales. No se administró terapia trombolítica. Angiografía selectiva mostró múltiples aneurismas en las arterias mesentéricas y renales. Se estableció el diagnóstico de poliarteritis nudosa (PA). El IAM como complicación en la PA puede ser secundario a la formación de arteritis con trombosis o al desarrollo precoz de aterosclerosis por terapia con esteroides. Este caso, presentado aneurismas múltiples en diferentes órganos, sin antecedentes cardiacos y sin terapia con esteroides, presentó como primera complicación de su padecimiento IAM con coronarias normales, probablemente debido a arteritis selectiva, que de acuerdo a la literatura médica, es una presentación poco frecuente

Insuficiência renal aguda anúrica causada por obstruçäo bilateral das artérias renais / Anuric kidney failure by renal arteries bilateral obstruction

Descrevemos um caso de insuficiência renal aguda anúrica associada à obstruçäo bilateral e arterite granulomatosa e necrotizante de artérias renais em paciente portador de síndrome mielodisplásica. Säo discutidos os métodos diagnosticos, as principais patologias causadoras de artérias renais e as opçöes terapêuticas. Apesar de ser causa rara de insuficiência renal aguda, a possibilidade de obstruçäo de artéria renal deve ser lembrada em casos de anúria, pois o seu diagnóstico precoce implica em maior chance de sucesso terapêutico.

Panarteritis nudosa cutánea (PANC.) / Cutaneous Periarteritis nodosa (CPN.)

Presentamos y comentamos dos nuevos casos de panarteritis nudosa predominante cutánea, (uno de ellos asociado a Hepatitis B y el otro a una Hipertensión arterial severa que obligó a descartar una panarteritis nudosa sistémica con compromiso renal