Has anyone heard of....

PanteraGirl

Polyarteritis nodosa....sorry peeps of MFP.....I'm grasping at straws....I was hoping that maybe I would stumble upon someone who knows about this rare condition.....so if anyone has ever heard of it.....or knows anyone in the medical profession that they could ask about it....please let me know

Its one of those things....and hoping someone here who knows about it might be able to help.......

:flowerforyou: Thanks to all those whom read this message just cuz of the subject.....my bad....like I said...grasping at straws.

Maryee71

My mother-in-law had this. Had to have a biopsy for a diagnosis.

PanteraGirl

My mother-in-law had this. Had to have a biopsy for a diagnosis.

Hi wow...i didn't think I'd get a response? Was she ever diagnosed and do they know what caused it? My brother has it and they can't figure it out...I thought maybe i could get help here!

TDGee

Start here. Hope it helps you some. Good luck!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002410/

cutiepie2628

I found this on the internet... i hope it helps hon...




Definition
Polyarteritis nodosa is a serious blood vessel disease in which small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged.

Alternative Names
Periarteritis nodosa

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Polyarteritis nodosa is a disease of unknown cause that affects arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to organs and tissues. It occurs when certain immune cells attack the affected arteries.

More adults than children get this disease. It damages the tissues supplied by the affected arteries because the tissues aren't receiving the oxygen and nourishment they need.

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

Generalized 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.

Nerve involvement may cause sensory changes with numbness, pain, burning, and weakness. Central nervous system involvement may cause strokes or seizures. Kidney involvement can produce varying degrees of renal (kidney) failure.

When heart arteries are involved, heart attack, heart failure, and inflammation of the sack around the heart (pericarditis) can occur.

Symptoms
Abdominal pain
Decreased appetite
Fatigue
Fever
Joint aches
Muscle aches
Unintentional weight loss
Weakness
of 2

Maryee71

She was having bad pain. They did a biopsy to make the diagnosis. She was on prednisone for a while and this helped. She's gone several yrs now without a flair up. Do check that web site and it should give you some answers too.

PanteraGirl

Thanks ladies!!! I really appreciate it......it sucks.......but the stuff i have found on the net...the specialist have already looked at..for them to find a cure they have to find a cause...and they can't find a cause...sucks but hey.....you never know who you will run into on MFP!!!

cutiepie2628

ur welcome hon... it hope everything turns out okay for you

Kris1430

I recovered from polyarteritis nodosa, with just over 2 years of treatment.

It was initially managed with Prednisone, but I did ultimately have to resort to a combination of Cytoxin and Prednisone.

I was lucky; my rheumatologist had treated this disease before, and recognized it fairly early. I don't believe the medical community understands the cause.

PanteraGirl

I recovered from polyarteritis nodosa, with just over 2 years of treatment.

It was initially managed with Prednisone, but I did ultimately have to resort to a combination of Cytoxin and Prednisone.

I was lucky; my rheumatologist had treated this disease before, and recognized it fairly early. I don't believe the medical community understands the cause.

Wow Kris that is amazing!! I'm so happy for you!!!! Would you be able to tell me a little bit more? My bro has it in the legs....and all the cocktail of meds are destroying him. What country is you rheumatologist in?

Kris1430

My legs were where I felt it the most, when the disease flared up.

My rheumatologist is out of Dallas, TX.

Outside of preventative meds the doctor had me on (Bactrim and Calcium supplements), the two medicines that were targeted at bringing everything under control was Prednisone and Cytoxin.

To monitor the disease's progress, we paid attention to the SED Rate, CRP, and ANCA tests.

Kris1430

My legs were where I felt it the most, when the disease flared up.

My rheumatologist is out of Dallas, TX.

Outside of preventative meds the doctor had me on (Bactrim and Calcium supplements), the two medicines that were targeted at bringing everything under control was Prednisone and Cytoxin.

To monitor the disease's progress, we paid attention to the SED Rate, CRP, and ANCA tests.

PanteraGirl

Thanks so much for the information Kris....I m going to pass this on to my brother for sure! I'm so glad you are okay Any other info you think off is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!:flowerforyou: