Case report
An unusual complication of polyarteritis nodosa with massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage: a case report
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Center for Medical studies, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
3 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sparrow Hospital, East Lansing, MI, USA
International Archives of Medicine 2010, 3:31 doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-31
Published: 11 November 2010Abstract
Background and Case report
Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that affects medium-sized and occasionally involves small arteries leading to the disruption of the internal and external elastic lamina and contribute to the development of aneurysms. Aneurysms develop at bifurcation of major blood vessels; they are prone to thrombosis, rupture and haemorrhage. Retroperitoneal haemorrhage around kidneys was previously reported in patients with PAN. We report a case of massive retroperitoneal bleeding from inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm rupture in a 70-year-old female with PAN.
Conclusion
Prognosis of untreated PAN is very poor with 20% 5 year survival rate, therefore early recognition of the disease will prevent catastrophic complications and improves survival.
