Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa in three patients: disease course and our experience leading to faster remission.

ABSTRACT

We present three new cases of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa with a follow-up ranging from 38 to 49 months, describing their clinical and histological findings, as well as treatment options leading to sustained remission. All patients met the criteria for diagnosis. The presence of extracutaneous symptoms and laboratory analysis differed among our patients, as did various elements of the workup in comparison to published studies. We concluded that dapsone alone, or in combination with systemic steroids, proved superior and highly effective despite being less frequently used. More aggressive therapy for shorter intervals could lead to quicker remission of cutaneous lesions and symptoms without chronic relapses, which are commonly noted.