How long can you live with polyarteritis nodosa?
When left untreated, the 5-year survival rate of PAN is 13%. Nearly half of patients die within the first 3 months of onset. Corticosteroid treatment improves the 5-year survival rate to 50-60%. When the steroid is combined with other immunosuppressants, the 5-year survival rate may increase to greater than 80%.
What are the signs and symptoms of polyarteritis nodosa?
PAN is a multisystem disease that may present with fever, sweats, weight loss, and severe muscle and joint aches/pains. PAN may develop in a subacute fashion, over several weeks or months. Patients may have nonspecific complaints such as fever, malaise, weight loss, anorexia, and abdominal pain.
Is polyarteritis nodosa fatal?
Classical polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) refers to a rare, potentially fatal systemic transmural necrotizing vasculitis that usually affects medium-sized, and occasionally small, muscular arteries, primarily involves the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skin, nervous system, joints, and muscles, and is rarely, if ever.
What affects polyarteritis nodosa?
Polyarteritis nodosa mainly affects small and medium-sized arteries. Blood vessels in any organ or organ system may be affected, including arteries supplying the kidneys, heart, intestine, nervous system, and/or skeletal muscles.
Is polyarteritis nodosa an autoimmune disease?
Polyarteritis Nodosa Causes and Risk Factors PAN is an autoimmune disease. Your immune system mistakes your blood vessels for a virus or other foreign invader and attacks them.
Is polyarteritis nodosa curable?
There is no cure for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), but the disease and its symptoms can be managed. The goal of treatment is to prevent disease progression and further organ damage. The exact treatment depends on the severity in each person. While many people do well with treatment, relapses can occur.
What kind of doctor treats polyarteritis nodosa?
Consultation with a rheumatologist is appropriate. Other consultants should be sought according to organ system involvement and include the following: Cardiologist. Gastroenterologist.
What is polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) vasculitis?
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly targeting medium-sized arteries. PAN is a rare form of vasculitis, and the precise frequency of this disease is difficult to determine.
Symptoms are caused by damage to affected organs and may include fever, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle and joint aches, rashes, numbness, and abdominal pain. The underlying cause of PAN is unknown. Treatment involves medicines to suppress inflammation and the immune system, including steroids.
What is the prevalence of polyarteritis nodosa in the US?
Statistics Statistics. Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare disease, with an incidence of about 3 to 4.5 cases per 100,000 people annually in the United States (about 1 in 22,000 to 1 in 33,000 people).
Is there a cure for polyarteritis nodosa?
Treatment Treatment. There is no cure for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), but the disease and its symptoms can be managed. The goal of treatment is to prevent disease progression and further organ damage. The exact treatment depends on the severity in each person.