What causes polyarteritis nodosa?

Autoimmune?: No specific cause has been identified for this autoimmune disorder. But it is treated with drugs used in inflammatory types of arthritis.

Polyarteritis nodosa: Pan ( poly arteritis nodosa) is a disease of unknown cause.It affects small to medium sized arteries reducing or cutting off blood supply to organs . Men are affected more than women between ages of 30 to 50 . In 25% of patients hepatitis b or c infection is seen. Small and medium arteries are attacked by immune cells . It can affect infants. Dilated arteries and strictures resemble rosary beads.

Polyarteritis causes: Polyarthritis is most often caused by an auto-immune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, amyloidosis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus erythematosus. In addition, it may also be caused by infection with an alphavirus such as chikungunya virus and ross river virus. If you have it, ask your physician for more information.