Benign cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. Relationship to systemic polyarteritis nodosa and to hepatitis B infection
G. Minkowitz, B. R. Smoller and N. S. McNutt
Department of Pathology and Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, New York.
Benign cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa has been described as having a benign
course in contrast to that of systemic classic polyarteritis nodosa. We
tested the hypothesis that this histologic distinction is false by
reviewing nine consecutive cases with the histologic diagnosis of benign
cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. Our study revealed that on follow-up, seven
(78%) of nine cases had evidence of involvement of at least one organ other
than the skin, with the kidney being the organ most commonly involved. Four
(44%) of nine patients had serologic evidence of hepatitis B infection, one
had cryoglobulinemia, and one had polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia
associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We conclude that benign
cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is not necessarily benign and is closely
related to systemic polyarteritis nodosa.
