Large vessel vasculitis more common in younger patients and involves the aortic arch in about one-third.

Large vessel vasculitis more common in younger patients and involves the aortic arch in about one-third.

• A. Takayasu arteritis
• B. Giant cell arteritis
• C. Polyarteritis nodosa
• D. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Answer: (A)

Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel vasculitis that classically affects younger patients and predominantly involves the aorta and its major branches. The aortic arch is a common site, seen in about one-third of cases, which explains the pattern described. Clinically this can present with diminished or asymmetric upper-extremity pulses and blood pressures due to stenosis of the arch vessels, reflecting its predilection for the great vessels. This contrasts with giant cell arteritis, which occurs in older individuals and often involves the temporal arteries; polyarteritis nodosa affects medium-sized arteries with more visceral/renal involvement and occurs outside the typical young-age pattern; granulomatosis with polyangiitis involves small- to medium-sized vessels with respiratory tract and kidney involvement rather than primary large-vessel arch disease. Thus, the description fits Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel vasculitis that classically affects younger patients and predominantly involves the aorta and its major branches. The aortic arch is a common site, seen in about one-third of cases, which explains the pattern described. Clinically this can present with diminished or asymmetric upper-extremity pulses and blood pressures due to stenosis of the arch vessels, reflecting its predilection for the great vessels. This contrasts with giant cell arteritis, which occurs in older individuals and often involves the temporal arteries; polyarteritis nodosa affects medium-sized arteries with more visceral/renal involvement and occurs outside the typical young-age pattern; granulomatosis with polyangiitis involves small- to medium-sized vessels with respiratory tract and kidney involvement rather than primary large-vessel arch disease. Thus, the description fits Takayasu arteritis.