4.03 Large Vessel Vasculitis
Rheumatology review for the USMLE Step 1 Exam
- Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels
- Vasculitis is split into three groups based on the size of blood vessels affected: large, medium, and small vessel vasculitis
- Large vessel vasculitis involves inflammation of the aorta and its main branches
- Two distinct large vessel vasculitidies: temporal (or giant cell) arteritis and takayasu arteritis
- Temporal (giant cell) arteritis primarily affects older women (>60) and the branches of the common carotid arteries
- Symptoms of temporal arteritis: jaw pain (jaw claudication), headaches, tenderness along temporal artery
- Complication of temporal arteritis: blindness
- Takayasu arteritis mostly affects young Asian women (<40)
- Symptoms of takayasu arteritis: weak upper extremity pulse, constitutional symptoms, myalgias, skin nodules, ocular disturbances
- Both temporal arteritis and takayasu arteritis are treated with a course of steroids
