Pathogenesis of Polyarteritis Nodosa in Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

The pathogenesis of the vascular lesions of polyarteritis nodosa found in young rats with experimental renal hypertension is described. The panarteritic lesion was a product of the combination of renal injury and feeding sodium chloride. It began with a fibrinoid necrosis of the intima and media which was followed by an extensive inflammatory reaction with subsequent fibrosis of all layers of the vessel wall.