Acute cholecystitis at initial presentation of polyarteritis nodosa

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Although gastrointestinal involvement may be seen in half of the cases of PAN, vasculitis of the gallbladder at the disease onset is a rare presentation. We report a case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted due to acute chole...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical rheumatology 2005-12, Vol.24 (6), p.625-627
Main Authors: Fernandes, Sandra Regina Muchinechi, Samara, Adil Muhib, Magalhães, Eduardo Paiva, Sachetto, Zoraida, Metze, Konradin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cholecystitis, Acute - complications
Cholecystitis, Acute - diagnosis
Cholecystitis, Acute - surgery
Cyclophosphamide - therapeutic use
Diagnosis, Differential
Drug Therapy, Combination
Gallbladder
Gallbladder - pathology
Gallbladder - surgery
Gallbladder diseases
Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use
Male
Middle Aged
Polyarteritis Nodosa - complications
Polyarteritis Nodosa - diagnosis
Polyarteritis Nodosa - drug therapy
Prednisone - therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Although gastrointestinal involvement may be seen in half of the cases of PAN, vasculitis of the gallbladder at the disease onset is a rare presentation. We report a case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted due to acute cholecystitis. He had complained of myalgia, fever and weight loss for about one month prior to admission. At physical examination, mild hypertension and calf pain were noted. He underwent a cholecystectomy; histopathological evaluation disclosed necrotizing vasculitis suggestive of PAN. We emphasize that cholecystitis may be part of the initial presentation of systemic vasculitis.
ISSN:0770-3198
1434-9949
DOI:10.1007/s10067-005-1092-y