Question:

Which of the following is true about polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)?

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One classic association of medium-vessel PAN is a viral hepatitis seen in roughly a third of patients; PAN is ANCA-negative.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Microscopy shows fibrinoid necrosis in large arteries
  • ANCA is positive
  • About 30% of patients have HBsAg positivity
  • Patients have hypogammaglobulinaemia
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Correct answer: About 30% of patients have HBsAg positivity.
Step 1: PAN is a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized muscular arteries. About 30% of patients have chronic hepatitis B with HBsAg-HBsAb immune complexes deposited in vessel walls, pointing to an immune-complex mechanism in that subset.
Step 2: Why the others are wrong. PAN affects small and medium arteries, not large arteries, so option 1 is incorrect. PAN is classically ANCA-negative, which distinguishes it from microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis, so option 2 is wrong. PAN is an immune-complex disease and does not cause hypogammaglobulinaemia, so option 4 is wrong.
Step 3: Kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and muscle are commonly involved; lungs are characteristically spared.
Ref: Robbins, vasculitis.
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