Correct!
4. Polyarteritis nodosa
With his normal eosinophil count and negative ANCAs along with his newly diagnosed hepatitis B infection, evidence of peripheral neuropathy, abdominal pain, and testicular pain, weight loss, diastolic hypertension, and elevated white blood cell count and ESR, the most likely diagnosis is polyarteritis nodosa.
Polyarteritis nodosa is a vasculitis of small and medium arteries. It is frequently associated with acute hepatitis B infection. The current hypothesis is that circulating immune complexes containing viral proteins are responsible for inciting inflammation.
Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment course at this time? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the fifth of six pages)