Polyarteritis nodosa presenting as a febrile rash and severe fatal myocarditis

Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium sized muscular arteries. The spectrum of the clinical presentation can range from an apparently limited disease to fulminant polyvisceral failure. We report a fatal case of isolated cardiac PAN presenting as an acute febrile rash and hypotension.