[Fatal polyarteritis nodosa following Graves' disease (author's transl)].

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), with a fatal outcome, developed during the course of a therapeutically controlled Graves'disease. A review of the published literature confirms that two mechanisms may be involved in the onset of PAN in hyperthyroid patients: an immune response, which is probable in the case reported, or a toxic effect related to the treatment of the hyperthyroidism. This case also emphasizes the therapeutical difficulties encountered, in spite of the corticoid and cyclophosphamide associated treatment with plasmapheresis.