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What provokes polyarteritis nodosa?
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Causes of polyarteritis nodosa
Nodular polyarteritis is classified as a polyetiological disease. Possible causes of its occurrence may be infectious factors, medications, vaccination. In classical nodular polyarteritis, most patients are found to be infected with the hepatitis B virus. In juvenile polyarteritis, the onset of the disease and its exacerbations coincide with a respiratory viral infection, tonsillitis or otitis, less often - with drug or vaccine provocation. The role of hereditary vulnerability of the vascular system and predisposition to rheumatic diseases is possible - often close relatives have various vascular, rheumatic and allergic diseases.
[ Pathogenesis of polyarteritis nodosa
In the pathogenesis of nodular polyarteritis, the main role is played by immune complex processes with activation of complement and accumulation of leukocytes in the zone of fixation of immune complexes. Immune complex inflammation develops in the wall of small and medium arteries. As a result, destructive-proliferative vasculitis, deformation of the vascular bed, slowing of blood flow, rheological and hemocoagulation disorders, thrombosis of the vascular lumen, tissue ischemia occur.