Polyarteritis Nodosa Center - Penn Hills, PA
Penn Hills Rheumatologist Doctors for Polyarteritis NodosaType of Physician: Rheumatologist What is a Rheumatologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists. Specialty: Rheumatology Common Name: Rheumatologist Doctors in Penn Hills * Margolis Rheumatology Associates  Margolis Rheumatology Associates  Margolis Rheumatology Associates  Margolis Rheumatology Associates  Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Associates  Lupus Center of Excellence  Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Associates  Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Associates  Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Associates  Allegheny North Arthritis Center PC  Allegheny North Arthritis Center PC  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  Arthritis & Internal Medicine Associates UPMC  University of Pittsburgh Arthritis & Autoimmunity Center  Lupus Center of Excellence  Lupus Center of Excellence  Lupus Center of Excellence  Larry W Moreland MD  Domingo G Ottenello MD  Allegheny North Arthritis Center PC  Ajay K Mathur MD  Pittsburgh Rheumatology Associates  Pittsburgh Rheumatology Associates  Pittsburgh Rheumatology Associates  Pittsburgh Rheumatology Associates  Mitra Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center PC  Pucevich & Pucevich MDs  Geri L Bacu MD  Heritage Valley Rheumatology  Heritage Valley Rheumatology  Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates  Richard H Kim DO  Northwest Physicians Associates  Alleghenies Independent Physicians Inc  Magdy K Iskander MD  Altoona Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center  Altoona Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center  Altoona Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center  Altoona Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center  Altoona Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center Penn Hills, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Polyarteritis NodosaRead the Polyarteritis Nodosa article » What is polyarteritis nodosa?Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare autoimmune disease (immune system attacking its own body) featuring spontaneous inflammation of the arteries (arteritis). Because arteries are involved, the disease can affect any organ of the body. The most common areas of involvement include the muscles, joints, intestines (bowels), nerves, kidneys, and skin. Poor function or pain in any of these organs can be a symptom. Poor blood supply to the bowels can cause abdominal pain, local bowel death, and bleeding. Fatigue, weight loss, and fever are common. Polyarteritis nodosa is most common in middle-age people. Its cause is unknown, but it has been reported after hepatitis B infection. Polyarteritis is not felt to be an inherited condition.
How is polyarteritis nodosa diagnosed?The diagnosis is supported by tests that indicate inflammation including elevation of blood sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. The white blood cell count and platelet count can be elevated, while the red blood count is decreased (anemia). Hepatitis B virus testing (for either antigen and antibody) can be found in 10%-20% of patients with polyarteritis nodosa. Urine testing can show protein and red blood cells in the urine. In patients with nerves affected, nerve function tests are abnormal. The diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa is confirmed by a biopsy of involved tissue that reveals the inflamed blood vessels (vasculitis). Examples of tissues that are sometimes biopsied include nerves, muscle, kidneys, and bowel. Vasculitis of the bowel and kidneys can often be detected with an angiogram (x-ray testing while contrast "dye" is infused into the blood vessels). The American College of Rheumatology established criteria for the classification of polyarteritis nodosa in 1990. For classification purposes, a patient is said to have polyarteritis nodosa if ... Recommended Reading Related to Polyarteritis NodosaScleritis facts
What is scleritis?Scleritis is an inflammation of the sclera, the white portion of the eye. What is the sclera?The sclera is the tough, white fibrous outer wall layer of the eye. It is a type of connective tissue. The sclera provides both the white color of the eye and allows the eye to maintain its shape. It extends from the edge of the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped window in the front of the eye) all the way to the optic nerve in the back of the eye.
What causes scleritis?Scleritis is an uncommon disease and is differentiated from episcleritis, which is a more common ocular condition. In episcleritis,... Other Related Polyarteritis Nodosa ArticlesEmergency Contact for Penn Hills
Nearby Penn Hills Hospitals *HEALTHSOUTH Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital UPMC St Margaret VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Main Campus Transitional Infant Care Hospital The Children's Institute UPMC Shadyside Western Pennsylvania Hospital UPMC Braddock The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC Presbyterian Magee-Womens Hospital UPMC Mercy UPMC Southside Allegheny General Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North Shore Alle-Kiski Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital McKeesport UPMC McKeesport UPMC Passavant Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh North Campus Jefferson Regional Medical Center Ohio Valley General Hospital St Clair Hospital Westmoreland Excela Health Hospital at Jeannette Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital UPMC Passavant Cranberry Mayview State Hospital Southwood Psychiatric Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley Westmoreland Regional Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh Monongahela Valley Hospital Butler Memorial Hospital Canonsburg General Hospital ACMH Hospital Butler VA Medical Center Latrobe Area Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Greensburg Frick Hospital Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley Medical Center of Beaver Torrance State Hospital The Washington Hospital Ellwood City Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Viral Hepatitis
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Vasculitis
- Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases which feature inflammation of the blood vessels. Each form of vasculitis has its own characteristic pattern of symptoms. The diagnosis of vasculitis is definitively established after a biopsy of involved tissue demonstrates the pattern of blood vessel inflammation. Treatment is directed toward decreasing the inflammation of the arteries and improving the function of affected organs.
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Connective Tissue Disease
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Relapsing Polychondritis
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Hepatitis B
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Scleritis
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