Polyarteritis Nodosa and the “Rheumatic” Diseases

Polyarteritis nodosa has been the subject of comprehensive reviews covering most of its clinical and histological aspects (Smith and Zeek, 1947; Miller and Daley, 1946; Davson, Ball, and Platt, 1948).There are, however, four points which require clarification, and they are discussed in the present paper: (1) the early changes and the question of the so-called "fibrinoid " substance; (2) some histological criteria reputed to distinguish polyarteritis nodosa from the rheumatic and " pararheumatic " diseases, including " temporal arteritis" (" pararheumatic" is used in the sense defined by Teilum, 1946); (3) polyarteritis nodosa as the basis of " Loffier's syndrome " (eosinophil-celled alveolitis) associated with dermatoses; (4) the factor of bacterial hypersensitivity in the causation of polyarteritis nodosa.The material consists of 18 cases, 13 men and five women.Their ages ranged from 38 to 69, one-third of the subjects being between 46 and 48 years.Eight biopsies were taken: four from muscle, two from skin nodules, one from sympathetic ganglion, and one from the temporal artery.Ten necropsies were performed.The following are the preferential sites in which polyarteritis lesions were found on July 17, 2023 by guest.