PERIARTERITIS NODOSA

Abstract

Periarteritis nodosa is an unusual and relatively uncommon vascular disease. As late as the middle of 1933 only 195 verified cases were to be found in the medical literature.¹Seventy-seven of these had been reported after 1926. Kussmaul and Maier²in 1866 made the first anatomic description of the disease. In 1878 Meyer³described a triad of symptoms characteristic of periarteritis nodosa: first, chlorotic marasmus; second, polymyositis and polyneuritis, and, third, gastro-intestinal symptoms. Brinkmann⁴and Christeller⁵later emphasized nephritis as a fourth cardinal symptom. Arkin⁶in 1930 described in detail the pathologic lesions. The case reported here presented a clinical picture simulating an acute surgical condition of the kidney so closely that nephrectomy was performed. <h3>REPORT OF CASE</h3><h3>First Entry.—</h3> T. M., a married man, aged 29, a tilesetter, admitted to the University of California Hospital in the medical teaching service, March 30, 1931,