ROSH Geriatrics Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The presence of a patchy rash, foot drop, and signs of inflammation in medium-sized arteries strongly suggests polyarteritis nodosa as the most likely diagnosis. Polyarteritis nodosa is a type of vasculitis that primarily affects medium-sized muscular arteries, leading to systemic symptoms and potential organ damage.

The foot drop indicates possible peripheral neuropathy or involvement of nerve structures associated with the affected vascular supply, which aligns with the type of neurologic complications seen in polyarteritis nodosa. Additionally, the rash can be associated with the skin findings in this condition, which may include livedo reticularis and sometimes nodules or ulcers due to ischemia.

Other conditions listed may overlap with some clinical features but typically have distinct characteristics. For instance, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis primarily affects small to medium-sized vessels and is characterized by asthma, eosinophilia, and systemic symptoms. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is also a small to medium vessel disease, more commonly presenting with respiratory tract involvement and renal complications, rather than the direct vascular involvement seen in polyarteritis nodosa. Henoch-Schönlein purpura mainly affects children and is characterized by a triad of symptoms including palpable pur