[Periarteritis nodosa and carcinoma of the colon. A case report (author's transl)]

It is extremely rare to observe the simultaneous progression of periarteritis nodosa (PAN) and cancer. A patient was found to have histologically confirmed PAN shortly after excision of an adenocarcinoma of the descending colon. High levels of carcino-embryonic and then HbS antigens were discovered in the serum. A favorable medium-term result was obtained after corticoids and multiple cytotoxic chemotherapy. If one accepts that the typical vascular lesions of PAN are due to an antigen-antibody conflict producing circulating immune complexes, it is reasonable to suggest the hypothesis that many antigens could be involved in the production of immune complexes of this type. Many authors accept that HbS antigen is implicated, certain tumoral antigens may also play an analagous role.