PERIARTERITIS NODOSA—POSSIBLE RELATION TO THE INCREASED USAGE OF SULFONAMIDES

Abstract

Since the introduction of sulfonamides as a therapeutic agent, there has been a greater incidence of recognizable cases of periarteritis nodosa. A review of the records at Bellevue Hospital disclosed only 4 cases of periarteritis nodosa diagnosed clinically from 1916 to 1937. However, from 1938 to 1946, during which time sulfa drugs were employed widely, there ware 14 cases which were proven either by biopsy or necropsy. There is sufficient exptl. and clinical evidence to indicate that the admn. of sulfona-mide drugs can produce hypersensitive reactions characterized by vascular necrosis and arteritis resembling periarteritis nodosa. These lesions and the increased incidence of periarteritis nodosa during the sulfa era suggests a relation between sulfonamides and the disease, periarteritis nodosa.