Definition

Noun: 1. A progressive disease of connective tissue: This is a medical condition where the walls of medium-sized arteries become inflamed and damaged over time. The disease is characterized by the formation of small, bead-like swellings (nodules) along the affected arteries.

Usage

• The term is used in medical contexts to diagnose and describe a specific type of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).
• It is a technical, formal term primarily used by healthcare professionals.

Examples

• The patient was diagnosed with periarteritis nodosa after presenting with fever, weight loss, and nerve pain.
• Treatment for periarteritis nodosa often involves medications to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation.
• A biopsy confirmed the presence of arterial nodules consistent with periarteritis nodosa.

Advanced Usage

• The term is sometimes used interchangeably with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), which is now the more precise and commonly used name for this condition in modern medical classification.

Variants and Related Words

• Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) (n): The contemporary and more specific term for this disease.
• Vasculitis (n): The general category of diseases involving inflammation of blood vessels, under which periarteritis nodosa is classified.
• Arteritis (n): Inflammation of the walls of an artery.

Synonyms

• Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
• Kussmaul disease (historical term)

Noun

1. a progressive disease of connective tissue that is characterized by nodules along arteries; nodules may block the artery and result in inadequate circulation to the particular area