[Polyarteritis nodosa: report of a case with angiographic study]

A case of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in a 54 year-old man is presented. The clinical picture showed a 6-month history of mixed sensorimotor distal symmetrical polyneuropathy in all limbs together with anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, mild fever and hypertension. The laboratory studies showed leucocytosis, elevated ESR, positive HBsAg and presence of cryoglobulins. Selective renal, celiac and mesenteric angiography was performed by femoral approach and has showed innumerable aneurysms most of them in hepatic and renal circulation. After about two weeks death has occurred. A brief discussion is done on clinical aspects of PAN pointing out the importance of HBsAg determination on etiopathogenesis and angiographic study on diagnosis.