Polyarteritis nodosa in a case of familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract

We describe a 7-year-old boy with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) complicated by polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) with distinct angiographic findings. On admission, he had abdominal pain, arthralgia, and severe fibromyalgia. During hospitalization, he displayed maculopapular eruptions, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and persistent constitutional symptoms mimicking a vasculitic process, most probably PAN. Renal angiography showed a perfusion defect compatible with a renal infarction secondary to a vasculitic process. He responded well to pulse methylprednisolone therapy with colchicine. We emphasize the rare association of FMF and PAN and the non-aneurysmal angiographic signs of PAN.