Painful brachial plexopathy: an unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa.

Introduction The clinical presentations of polyarteritis nodosa are classically diverse, reflecting variable vascular involvement of many organs and tissues. Mononeuritis multiplex is the most common neurological sequel (Ford and Siekert, 1965), but asymmetrical polyneuropathies, predominantly involving the lower limbs, are well recognized. Central nervous system involvement is described, but unusual. The syndrome of a progressive, painful, bilateral brachial neuropathy with paralysed upper limbs, and hoarseness due to recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement is unusual and reported now.