First, I need to figure out the condition. The symptoms point towards temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis (GCA). The unilateral headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, visual disturbances, and systemic symptoms like fever and weight loss are classic signs of GCA. The lab findings support this with elevated ESR and ANA, though ANA is more specific for autoimmune diseases. However, GCA is a vasculitis, and the biopsy of the temporal artery is the gold standard for diagnosis.
The pathogenesis of GCA involves inflammation of the medium and large arteries, especially the temporal artery. The key cells involved would be the ones causing this inflammation. Histologically, GCA shows a granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cells. So, the main cells involved are likely the macrophages and T-cells, but the hallmark is the presence of giant cells. However, the question is about the most importantly involved cells. In granulomatous inflammation, the primary cells are macrophages that fuse to form multinucleated giant cells. So, the correct answer should be related to macrophages or giant cells.
Looking at the options, the answer would be the one mentioning multinucleated giant cells. Let's check the options again. The user didn't list them, but the correct answer is likely multinucleated giant cells. The other options might include things like neutrophils, plasma cells, or lymphocytes. Neutrophils are more for acute inflammation, plasma cells for chronic, and lymphocytes are part of the immune response but not the hallmark here. The key pathologic feature is the giant cells, so the correct answer is multinucleated giant cells.
So, the core concept is the pathogenesis of GCA involving granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cells. The correct answer is multinucleated giant cells. The other options are incorrect because they don't form the hallmark of this condition. The clinical pearl is that temporal artery biopsy showing giant cells is diagnostic of GCA.
**Core Concept**
The clinical scenario describes giant cell arteritis (GCA), a large-vessel vasculitis characterized by granulomatous inflammation. The pathogenesis involves immune-mediated injury to the arterial wall, with multinucleated giant cells being a defining histopathological feature.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
In GCA, infiltration of the arterial wall by **T lymphocytes** and **macrophages** initiates an inflammatory cascade. Macrophages fuse to form multinucleated giant cells, which are central to the granulomatous destruction of the vessel wall. This process leads to ischemia, especially in the ophthalmic artery, causing visual disturbances. Elevated ESR and ANA reflect systemic inflammation, though ANA positivity can be nonspecific.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Neutrophils are not a hallmark of granulomatous inflammation in G
Free Medical MCQs Β· NEET PG Β· USMLE Β· AIIMS
Access thousands of free MCQs, ebooks and daily exams.
By signing in you agree to our Privacy Policy.