[An unusual association: panarteritis nodosa and rheumatoid arthritis as an overlapping collagenous syndrome]

The clinical record of a woman with two connective tissue diseases is presented. It started as a necrotizing arteritis with hepatic involvement and chronic multineuritis consistent with PAN. After a long period of clinical evolution the patient developed a real rheumatoid arthritis with positive RF. This clinical picture overlapped clinically and serologically the former one. A good response to the steroid therapy and a careful follow-up permitted a satisfactory life to this patient for about ten years.