Polyarteritis nodosa associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic, necrotizing vasculitis of medium and small arteries, without glomerulonephritis and not associated with the presence of ANCA. This is a rare condition occurring at any age, with a slight male predominance. In the majority of PAN cases, there is no evidence of aetiology. However, an infectious cause is sometimes found, foremost among which is infection with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C virus, on the other hand, is little associated with vasculitis. We report here a case of PAN associated with hepatitis C virus infection in a 40-year-old patient, a former drug addict, whose progress under treatment was satisfactory.