Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a transmural fibrinoid necrotizing arteritis of small and medium-sized vessels characterized by kidney, skin, joint and peripheral nervous and gastrointestinal system involvement. This disease is rarely seen in childhood. We herein report a 14.5-year-old boy presented with skin lesions, myalgia, headache, abdominal pain and malign hypertension. Polyarteritis nodosa was diagnosed by renal angiography. The treatment was as follows: Corticosteroid (intravenous pulse metil prednisolone, 1 gr/day 3 day; PO prednisolone 60 mg/day 30 days; prednisolone 60 mg/every other day 60 days) and cyclophosphamide (2.5 mg/kg/day, PO, 10 weeks). The patient was treated successfully by this regime and has been followed with no complains for eight months. We reviewed the clinical features, differential diagnosis and therapeutic approachment of PAN.