[Panarteritis nodosa with kidney and spleen rupture: diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities]

Classic polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis affecting medium- and small-sized arteries. Renal involvement from aneurysm formation is common and can result in perirenal or intrarenal bleeding. The gold standard of diagnostic procedures is the arteriography. Treatment of choice is a combination of steroids and cyclophosphamide, but in the case of severe hemorrhage surgery is mandatory. Patients with PAN need at least 2 years of long-term therapy; repeated arteriography will establish the efficacy of therapy.