A 35-year-old woman presents with fever, absent radial pulses bilaterally, elevated ESR, and aortic arch narrowing on angiography. The vasculitis affects large vessels and granulomatous inflammation is found in the vessel wall. The diagnosis is:
- A Giant cell (temporal) arteritis
- B Takayasu arteritis ✓
- C Polyarteritis nodosa
- D Kawasaki disease
Correct answer: B. Takayasu arteritis
Explanation
Takayasu arteritis (pulseless disease) is a granulomatous large vessel vasculitis predominantly affecting the aorta and its major branches in young women, particularly of Asian descent. It causes luminal narrowing and absent pulses ('pulseless disease'). Giant cell arteritis also causes large vessel granulomatous vasculitis but affects patients >50 years and involves temporal/ophthalmic arteries predominantly. Polyarteritis nodosa affects medium vessels; Kawasaki disease affects children.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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