P087 Polyarteritis nodosa: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium caliber arteries. Rarely described in children, its pathophysiology is complex and remains poorly elucidated. Two main forms were described in the literature: cutaneous and visceral. Material and results We report the cases of two boys, aged of 7 and 11 years old. They had a history of recurrent sore throat with a recurrent aphthosis in the 11-year-old child. Both boys presented with polyarthralgias, myalgias, polymorphous skin lesions made of livedo reticularis with subcutaneous nodosa on the lower limbs in the first child and distal necrosis of the toes with oedema of the lower limbs in the second. Patients suffered also of cough evolving in a context of alteration of the general state made of fever and asthenia. A biological inflammatory syndrome was present in both children and the skin histology confirmed periarteritis nodosa. The evolution was marked by the disappearance of arthralgias and myalgias after a corticosteroid-based treatment with progressive dose reduction until minimal effective dose. Conclusion The diagnosis of Polyarteritis nodosa should be made in any child presenting with the following signs: fever, altered general condition, myalgias, arthralgias and skin manifestations. The prognosis is usually benign but long-term surveillance is necessary.