An Unusual Presentation of Classic Idiopathic Polyarteritis Nodosa as Acute Interstitial Nephritis

In the medical literature, there have been few reported cases of classic Polyarteritis Nodosa (cPAN) presenting with acute renal failure (ARF) and, unlike microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), no documentation to our knowledge of cPAN with clinical presentation similar to acute interstitial nephritis. We...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ravi Sunderkrishnan, Vijay Bodukam, Manpreet Tiwana, Prasanna Tadi, Nathan C. Okechukwu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2013-01-01
Series:Clinical Medicine Insights: Case Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4137/CCRep.S11520
Description
Summary:In the medical literature, there have been few reported cases of classic Polyarteritis Nodosa (cPAN) presenting with acute renal failure (ARF) and, unlike microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), no documentation to our knowledge of cPAN with clinical presentation similar to acute interstitial nephritis. We describe a case of ARF and a clinical picture suggestive of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). However, renal biopsy of this patient showed acute necrotizing intrarenal vasculitis, suggestive of cPAN. Although no guidelines exist for the most appropriate therapy for patients presenting in this fashion, combination therapy with cyclophosphamide and steroids, in our patient, resulted in clinical improvement and resolution of dialysis-dependent renal failure. These findings suggest the potential for good prognosis in patients with cPAN who present with a presumed diagnosis of AIN and dialysis-dependent ARF.
ISSN:1179-5476