Bilateral kidney rupture with severe retroperitoneal bleeding in polyarteritis nodosa

A patient is described with nontraumatic subcapsular haematomas of both kidneys, complicated by severe retroperitoneal bleeding. A diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa was reached using renal angiography. Bilateral nephrectomy had to be performed because of uncontrollable renal bleeding. A review of the literature on this complication of polyarteritis nodosa is given.