Treatment of polyarteritis nodosa related to hepatitis B virus with short term steroid therapy associated with antiviral agents and plasma exchanges. A prospective trial in 33 patients.

Abstract

We conclude that this new therapeutic approach to PAN related to HBV effectively controlled systemic vasculitis and was associated with a higher number of recoveries from chronic HBV infections. The development of new antiviral agents, such as interferon alpha 2b, allows us to hope that antiviral therapy will have a role to play as a first line treatment regimen of virus induced vasculitis.