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Polyarteritis nodosa affecting the spinal cord arteries.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine
|June 1, 1983
Summary
Necrotising arteritis affected spinal cord arteries and multiple organs in a patient with progressive peripheral neuropathy. This rare case highlights spinal cord vascular involvement in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Pathology
Background:
- Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis.
- Neurological complications are common in PAN, but spinal cord involvement is infrequently documented.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old female presented with severe paralysis due to progressive peripheral neuropathy.
- Post-mortem examination revealed necrotising arteritis in spinal arterial branches of the lumbar spinal cord.
Findings:
- The vasculitis affected skeletal muscles, bones, peripheral nerves, and most viscera, sparing the lungs and brain.
- Necrotising arteritis was identified in the lumbar spinal cord's arterial supply.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for spinal cord vascular pathology in PAN.
- Increased awareness of spinal cord arteritis in PAN is crucial for diagnosing and managing neurological complications.