Polyarteritis nodosa after HBsAg hepatitis in a patient undergoing hemodialysis: manifestation and response to therapy.

Polyarteritis nodosa developed in one of 34 patients undergoing long-term maintenance hemodialysis with persistent hepatitis B surface antigenemia. Exacerbation of the baseline hypertension and progressive peripheral neuropathy during the recovery phase of hepatitis B surface antigen hepatitis were the initial features. Poor response to aggressive corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy in this patient was in contrast to recent experience in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis and the general population.