Polyarteritis Nodosa - Symptoms

Symptoms

In this disease, symptoms result from ischemic damage to affected organs, often the skin, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.

Generalised symptoms include fever, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Muscle and joint aches are common. The skin may show rashes, swelling, ulcers, and lumps. Palpable purpura and livedo reticularis can occur in some patients.

Nerve involvement may cause sensory changes with numbness, pain, burning, and weakness (peripheral neuropathy). Central nervous system involvement may cause strokes or seizures.

Kidney involvement can produce varying degrees of renal failure, such as hypertension, edema, oliguria and uremia.

Involvement of the arteries of the heart may cause a heart attack, heart failure, and inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis).

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Fever
  • Abdominal pain
  • Decreased appetite
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Muscle aches
  • Joint aches

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