Criteria for the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa of the classic type were proposed at an International Consensus Conference held at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The diagnosis should be rare if the criteria are adhered to.
Lesion: necrotizing vasculitis predominantly of small and medium-sized arteries
Vessel
Involvement
venules
no
capillaries
no
arterioles
no
small arteries
yes
medium-sized arteries
yes
large arteries
possibly
Microscopic polyangiitis is distinguished by:
(1) presence of glomerulonephritis
(2) presence of vasculitis involving arterioles, capillaries and venules
(3) presence of pulmonary alveolar capillaritis
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