Polyarteritis nodosa typically affects which vessels?

Polyarteritis nodosa typically affects which vessels?

• A. Renal and visceral vessels
• B. Pulmonary arteries
• C. Cerebral arteries
• D. Muscular arteries of limbs

Answer: (A)

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis of medium-sized arteries. The vessels most characteristically affected are the renal and other visceral arteries (such as mesenteric, hepatic, and coronary arteries). This pattern explains the common clinical findings like hypertension from renal involvement and potential visceral ischemia. The lungs are typically spared in PAN, which helps distinguish it from other vasculitides that involve pulmonary arteries. While PAN can involve various medium-sized arteries, the hallmark distribution is renal and visceral, rather than the pulmonary circulation or predominantly cerebral or limb arteries.

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis of medium-sized arteries. The vessels most characteristically affected are the renal and other visceral arteries (such as mesenteric, hepatic, and coronary arteries). This pattern explains the common clinical findings like hypertension from renal involvement and potential visceral ischemia. The lungs are typically spared in PAN, which helps distinguish it from other vasculitides that involve pulmonary arteries. While PAN can involve various medium-sized arteries, the hallmark distribution is renal and visceral, rather than the pulmonary circulation or predominantly cerebral or limb arteries.