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Regressing microaneurysms in 5 cases of hepatitis B virus related polyarteritis nodosa
C Darras-Joly1, O Lortholary, P Cohen
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France.
Objective:
To investigate the angiographic evidence of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Methods:
We reviewed retrospectively the medical files of 5 patients who had therapy for PAN.
Results:
Each patient showed dramatic regression or disappearance of the aneurysms and stenoses; this reflected the clinical course and remission obtained with treatment, but not the disappearance of HBV. When a patient was considered clinically cured, i.e., no signs of vasculitis for 18 mo after discontinuation of treatment, microaneurysms had disappeared on angiography.
Conclusion:
From our experience and that reported by others, when clinical remission is achieved, arteriography is usually unnecessary because microaneurysms have disappeared or significantly regressed.