About Polyarteritis Nodosa
Polyarteritis Nodosa is a pathological condition characterized by swelling in the arteries. This condition affects normally the small and medium sized arteries causing inflammation and significant damage to the arteries. This is potentially a serious malfunction of the immune system and needs to be treated aggressively to prevent any untoward complications. If left untreated, Polyarteritis Nodosa can cause significant damage to the vital organs of the body and even the central nervous system.
The primary presenting features of Polyarteritis Nodosa include poor appetite, sudden unintentional weight loss, Pain in the abdominal or flank region, constantly feeling tired and fatigued, fever, and muscle and joint pain in various areas of the body.
Studies suggest that around 75% of people with Polyarteritis Nodosa have their nervous system damaged due to this condition. Seizures, cognitive decline, and other neurological issues may also arise as a result of untreated Polyarteritis Nodosa. Polyarteritis Nodosa also causes skin lesions, especially in the lower extremities. These lesions tend to be quite painful for the affected individual. Since this condition requires extensive treatment, it is extremely essential to know its causes. This article highlights some of the potential causes for Polyarteritis Nodosa.
Who Is At Risk For Polyarteritis Nodosa?
The function of the arteries is to carry blood to the tissues and organs of the body. In individuals with Polyarteritis Nodosa, the arteries get damaged interrupting the normal blood flow to various parts of the body such that the vital organs do not get the required blood for normal functioning.
Immune system malfunction is believed to be the primary cause of such damage to the arteries. Since the primary reason behind this immune system malfunction is not known thus the root cause of a condition like Polyarteritis Nodosa remains unknown.
However, there are some risk factors which increase the chances of an individual getting Polyarteritis Nodosa. Individuals above the age of 45 are predisposed to getting this condition. Polyarteritis Nodosa is seen more commonly in males than females. Additionally, individuals with a known history of active hepatitis infection are also predisposed to damage to the arteries as a result of Polyarteritis Nodosa.
In case if an individual has these risk factors, it is highly recommended that the individual gets in touch with the primary care physician to get checked for Polyarteritis Nodosa, especially if the individual has a family history of a relative with Polyarteritis Nodosa.
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