American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is one symptom associated with polyarteritis nodosa?

1. Jaundice

2. Weight loss

3. Skin rash

4. Headaches

The correct answer is: Weight loss

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic vasculitis that affects medium-sized muscular arteries, leading to diverse clinical manifestations. One of the prominent symptoms patients often experience is weight loss, which can occur due to chronic inflammation, loss of appetite, and systemic illness caused by the disease. This weight loss is often a reflection of the body's increased metabolic demand as it fights the underlying inflammation. While other symptoms such as skin rashes and headaches may occur in certain cases, weight loss is more consistently associated with the chronic inflammatory process typical of polyarteritis nodosa. Jaundice, on the other hand, is not a typical symptom of this condition and suggests liver issues unrelated to polyarteritis nodosa, while skin rashes may appear but are less definitive than weight loss as a symptom of this specific disease. The combination of systemic involvement and the body's reaction to chronic vasculitis often results in significant weight loss in affected individuals.