López RO, Oyarzabal GA, Franco RA

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 273-277
PDF size: 574.09 Kb.

ABSTRACT

A 26-year-old patient suffering from fever of unknown origin, nodular skin lesions, general discomfort, bilateral and symmetric arthritis, testicular pain, and muscle weakness was admitted to the hospital. A skin biopsy revealed a fibrinoid necrosis and presence of neutrophilic infiltration of the wall of small and medium-sized arteries. Cytomegalovirus serologic test was positive; hepatitis B virus surface antigen and antibodies against hepatitis C virus were negative. The case was concluded as polyarteritis nodosa associated with a cytomegalovirus infection. The symptoms disappeared promptly with oral prednisolone (60 mg) and intravenous ganciclovir, which underlines the importance of considering cytomegalovirus infection as one of possible etiopathogenic factor of polyarteritis nodosa.