A Case Report of Polyarteritis Nodosa in Small Bowel

ABSTRACT

Polyatreritis nodosa is a rare autoimmune disease (the immune system attacking its own body) characterized by spontaneous inflammation of the arteries (arteritis) of the body. Because arteries are involved, the disease can affect any organ of the body. The most common areas of involvement include the muscles, joints, intestines (bowels), nerves, kidneys, and skin. Gastrointestinal involvement is reported in about 50% of the cases, but bleeding complications are rare and result in a poor prognosis. Polyarteritis nodosa is most common in middle-age persons. Recently, we experienced polyarteritis nodosa which presented as small bowel bleeding and which was diagnosed by angiography, a small-bowel series, and patholgic examination of the surgically removed ileum specimen. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.