Manifestations, clinical course and prognostic markers in cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa

Tender nodules on the sole of the foot

We present a case of a 31-year-old man with a 1-year history of a waxing and waning, painful, raised, erythematous rash on the sole of his right foot. Examination revealed tender, livedoid, erythematous nodules on the plantar aspect of the base of the right first metatarsal, with no other abnormalities. Routine blood tests, including a comprehensive autoimmune screen, were normal. A punch biopsy showed a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate in the mid-dermis, with neutrophils and eosinophils infiltrating the walls of small and medium-sized blood vessels, accompanied by leucocytoclasis.

Re-emphasising the importance of catheter-based angiography to differentiate polyarteritis nodosa from cutaneous arteritis: Two case reports

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotising vasculitis with a poor prognosis, characterised by inflammation and necrosis of medium-sized arteries. PAN patients can present with a wide range of systemic manifestations, whereas cutaneous arteritis (CA) is a restricted manifestation to skin of the disease with a more favourable prognosis. Thus, differentiation between PAN and CA is crucial. Here, we present two cases that were initially diagnosed as CA due to the limited presence of systemic symptoms, but were finally diagnosed as PAN through catheter-based angiography. Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography and computed tomographic angiography are increasingly used to diagnose PAN, neither case had any abnormal findings on these examinations. Our cases therefore underscore that catheter-based angiography is critical for differentiation between PAN and CA, even in cases with limited systemic symptoms.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa and pulmonary arterial hypertension: An unexpected liaison. A case report

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) is a form of medium-sized vessel necrotizing vasculitis. It is a rare, skin-limited variant of polyarteritis nodosa, characterized by dermal and subcutaneous tissue involvement. The most common findings in cPAN include digital gangrene, livedo reticularis, and tender subcutaneous nodules. However, while limited to the skin, cPAN results in significant morbidity and mortality due to the accompanying skin ischemia and necrosis, such that patients are vulnerable to superinfection. Here, we describe a unique presentation of cPAN associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

METHODS

A 78-year-old female presented with digital ischemia and leg ulcers associated with PAH. Skin biopsy showed necrotizing fibrinoid necrosis of the small- and middle-sized vessels of the dermis. A diagnosis of cPAN and PAH was made. The patient was treated with glucocorticoids, vasodilators, and cyclophosphamide.

RESULTS

She died due to severe sepsis complications.

CONCLUSION

To date, this is the first case report describing the association between cPAN and PAH. In this case, PAH is a complication of the cutaneous vasculitides suggesting that vasculopathy could play a role in the pathophysiology of PAH. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms still have to be firmly established.

Treatment of cutaneous vasculitis

Cutaneous vasculitis encompasses a spectrum of disease states, with varied morphology, severity, and potential for systemic involvement. Even vasculitis which is skin-limited can have a significant quality-of-life impact, necessitating treatment. This manuscript summarizes the available evidence for management of various types of skin-limited vasculitis and provides a proposed therapeutic ladder based on published studies and expert opinion.

The spectrum of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. A case report of two contrasting cases and review of the literature

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is a rare neutrophilic vasculitis. We present two cases that reflect the gamut of this disorder including one case whose delayed diagnosis led to permanent nerve deficit and scarring.

Recent topics related to etiology and clinical manifestations of cutaneous arteritis

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) was first reported by Lindberg in 1931. It has been recognized as a skin-limited vasculitis whose cutaneous histopathological features are indistinguishable from those of PAN. Cutaneous arteritis (CA) was defined as a form of single-organ vasculitis in the revised Chapel Hill Classification and was recognized as the same disease as cPAN. It became known that deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2) cases were included in cases that had been diagnosed with CA. Because of their similarity and differences in the treatment methods, DADA2 should be considered in CA cases, especially if they are diagnosed or developed in early childhood. Cutaneous arteritis may be classified as an immune complex-mediated vasculitis. It was reported that the pathogenesis of anti-lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2) antibodies and anti-phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex (PS/PT) antibodies as good parameters in CA. The main skin manifestations include livedo racemosa, subcutaneous nodules, and ulcers. Although CA is recognized to have a benign clinical course, it has become known that it is easy to relapse. The existence of skin ulcers upon diagnosis or sensory neuropathies was suggested to be a predictor of poor prognosis. Cutaneous arteritis with them may need to be treated with more intensive therapies.

Differentialdiagnose Vaskulitis und Vaskulopathie aus dermatologischer Sicht

Vaskulopathien und Vaskulitiden stellen diagnostisch und therapeutisch eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung dar. Zugrunde liegen unterschiedliche pathophysiologische Mechanismen, die zu vielfältigen klinischen Krankheitsbildern führen können und therapeutisch unterschiedliche Ansätze erlauben. Sowohl Vaskulitiden als auch Vaskulopathien müssen nicht zwangsläufig mit einer Systembeteiligung einhergehen, sondern können auch als rein kutane Varianten auftreten. Aufgrund mangelnder pathognomonischer Laborparameter ist die Diagnose häufig klinisch zu stellen. Dieser Artikel soll den differentialdiagnostischen Blick, insbesondere auf die kutanen Manifestationsformen bei Vaskulopathien und Vaskulitiden, schärfen.

The tick and I: Parasite-host interactions between ticks and humans

Ticks, particularly hard ticks (Ixodidae), which are among the most important vectors of dangerous infectious agents, feed on their hosts for extended periods of time. With this lifestyle, numerous adaptations have evolved in ticks and their hosts, the pharmacological importance of which is increasingly being recognized. Many bioactive substances in tick saliva are being considered as the basis of new drugs. For example, components of tick cement can be developed into tissue adhesives or wound closures. Analgesic and antipruritic salivary components inhibit histamine or bradykinin, while other tick-derived molecules bind opioid or cannabinoid receptors. Tick saliva inhibits the extrinsic, intrinsic, or common pathway of blood coagulation with implications for the treatment of thromboembolic diseases. It contains vasodilating substances and affects wound healing. The broad spectrum of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects of tick saliva, such as inhibition of chemokines or cellular immune responses, allows development of drugs against inflammation in autoimmune diseases and/or infections. Finally, modern vaccines against ticks can curb the spread of serious infections. The medical importance of the complex tick-host interactions is increasingly being recognized and translated into first clinical applications. Using selected examples, an overview of the mutual adaptations of ticks and hosts is given here, focusing on their significance to medical advance.

Therapeutic options for cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of the middle-size vessels, confined to the skin. We conducted a systematic review in order to identify studies evaluating the different treatment modalities used in CPAN.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020222195. PubMed/Medline databases were searched from inception to December of 2020 using the terms: (Polyarteritis nodosa[Title/Abstract]) AND ((therapy[Title/Abstract]) OR (management[Title/Abstract]) OR (treatment[Title/Abstract]))' and 'Cutaneous arteritis [Title/Abstract]'. Articles evaluating pertaining to the management of CPAN in adults were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

A total of seven eligible case series with 325 unique patients were included. No study included a control population. In general, systemic corticosteroids were widely used as induction treatment. Immunosuppressive agents combined with corticosteroids were AZA, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, sulphapyridine, CYC, MTX, mycophenolate, tacrolimus, rituxima and thalidomide. Other agents utilized in the studies were dapsone, colchicine, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylates, warfarin and clopidogrel. In some studies, the presence of ulcerations was associated with an increased risk of relapse.

CONCLUSION

The evidence available regarding the management of patients with CPAN is limited at best. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the effect of treatment on disease remission, relapses and mortality.

Localized Forms of Vasculitis

Purpose of Review

To provide an updated review on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic assessment, treatment, and prognosis of localized vasculitis, following the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature on single-organ vasculitis.

Recent Findings

Localized, single-organ vasculitides encompass a group of rare conditions in which there is no evidence of concomitant systemic vasculitis. Most data on this topic derives from case reports and small case series. Although some aspects of these diseases, such as clinical manifestations and histologic findings, have already been extensively investigated, there is still a lack of robust data concerning the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment.

Summary

Localized vasculitides may have a wide range of clinical features depending on the organ affected. The inflammatory process may have a multifocal/diffuse or unifocal distribution. Diagnosis is usually based on histopathology findings and exclusion of systemic vasculitis, which may frequently pose a challenge. Further research on treatment is warranted.

Clinical Approach to Diagnosis and Therapy of Polyarteritis Nodosa

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare disease characterized by the necrotizing inflammation of medium-sized arteries. Different etiopathogenetic and clinical variants of the disease have been recognized over the past decades. In the present paper, we review the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of the different subtypes of the disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

The diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa is primarily based on clinical findings, imaging, and histopathological investigations. Microbiological and genetic investigations complement the diagnostic work-up. Idiopathic and hereditary variants of polyarteritis nodosa are treated with immunomodulatory medications such as glucocorticoids, conventional immunomodulatory drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide) and biologic agents (e.g., tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, interleukin 6 inhibitor), while hepatitis B virus-associated polyarteritis nodosa primarily requires antiviral therapy combined with plasma exchange. PAN is a disease with heterogeneous presentations, severity, and therapeutic approaches. The overall prognosis of this disease is improving, mainly due to early diagnosis and more effective treatments. Treatment choices are guided mainly by the disease subtype and severity. In this review, we have presented the current knowledge on PAN clinical variants, their classification, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.