Polyarteritis nodosa and hepatitis-B surface antigen: role of angiography in diagnosis

two patients with polyarteritis nodosa who presented with vague constitutional systems and hepatitis-B antigenemia are reported. Angiography was used as the primary diagnostic procedure and confirmed the diagnosis in each case. Angiography is a relatively simple and direct means for establishing the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa. In these patients, the typical finding of aneurysm formation in multiple organs was observed. Arterial narrowing was also widespread. Multiple renal infarcts are shown in one case, and bronchial arteriography revealed aneurysms and narrowing in bronchial and intercostal arteries in one patient who had a recent pulmonary infarction and a normal pulmonary arteriogram. The relationship of the hepatitis-B antigen and polyarteritis is also emphasized.