skip to main content

Takayasu Arteritis — RACP Adult Medicine MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateRheumatologyTakayasu ArteritisRACP Adult Medicine

A 25-year-old Asian woman presents with arm claudication, discrepant blood pressures between arms (right 95/60, left 135/85 mmHg), absent right radial pulse, and aortic regurgitation. ESR is 65 mm/hr. CT angiography shows long-segment stenosis and wall thickening of the aortic arch and right subclavian artery with skip lesions. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Takayasu arteritis

Young Asian woman with arm claudication, asymmetric BPs, absent pulse, aortic regurgitation, elevated inflammatory markers, and CT showing aortic arch and subclavian stenosis with wall thickening is Takayasu arteritis. It predominantly affects women aged 10-40. Classification based on arterial involvement pattern (types I-V). Treatment: glucocorticoids ± methotrexate/azathioprine. Tocilizumab is used for refractory disease. Vascular intervention for critical stenoses.

Reference: ACR/EULAR – 2022 – Takayasu; eTG Rheumatology 2024