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NR 603 Week 7 Exam Questions and
Answers A+ Graded (2025)
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-aka temporal arteritis
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-temporal artery granulomatous
vasculitis, can cause ipsilateral blindness (ophthalmic artery)
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-geriatric inflammatory disorder of
the muscles and joints characterized by pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders,
upper arms, and hips and thighs
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-•Dg should be considered in pt > 50 years
with:
•New headaches
•Abrupt onset of visual disturbances, especially transient monocular visual loss
•Jaw claudication
•Unexplained fever, anemia, or other constitutional symptoms and signs
•High ESR and/or CRP
•Current or prior PMR
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-MC vasculitis
thickened and nodular temporal arteries
ischemic optic neuropathy (swollen optic disc with blurred margins)
symptoms: anorexia or weight loss, night sweats, weakness, depression -
CORRECT ANSWER-What is seen on PE with GCA?
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-MC rheumatic cause of fever of unknown
origin in elderly
ESR > 100
mild to moderate anemia
increased platelets - CORRECT ANSWER-What is seen with labs in GCA?
•Age >/= 50 at time of onset
•Localized headache of new onset
•Tenderness or decreased TA pulse
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•ESR > 50 mm/hour
•Positive TA biopsy with necrotizing arteritis & mononuclear cells or a
granulomatous process with multinucleated giant cells - CORRECT ANSWER-
ACR criteria for CGA
prednisone
do not delay tx
temporal artery biopsy within 2-4 weeks
steroid sparing med: Tocilizumab
®Prednisone start 1 mg/kg/day (typically 60mg/day)
®Methyprednisolone 1000 mg IV for visual loss prevention
®Prednisone should be tapered slowly over 1-2 years (minimum)
®Relapses common 1-2 years after diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWER-1st line tx of
GCA
Tocilizumab - CORRECT ANSWER-MOA: IL-6 receptor antagonist
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-Age greater than 50 years
Pain and stiffness > 4 weeks duration in muscles of the neck , shoulder girdle,
and pelvic girdle-symmetric fashion
Dramatic clinical response to small doses of prednisone
50% - CORRECT ANSWER-polymyalgia rheumatic occurs in what % of patients
with GCA?
15% - CORRECT ANSWER-What % of patients with PMR will develop GCA?
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-clincal manifestations include:
®Proximal muscle stiffness
®Malaise, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia
®High spiking fevers- consider GCA
®Swelling of the hands, wrists, ankles and top of feet
®Moderate to high elevation in ESR and CRP
®Mild to moderate anemia
®Normal WBC
®ANA, RF, CPK are normal - CORRECT ANSWER-What lab findings are seen with
PMR?
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-Age > 50
®Clinical symptoms of at least 2/3 areas:
®Neck or torso
®Shoulders or proximal regions of arms
®Hips or proximal aspects of thighs
®Elevated ESR
®Rapid response to prednisone
®Biopsy not indicated to r/o GCA
NR 603 Week 7 Exam Questions and
Answers A+ Graded (2025)
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-aka temporal arteritis
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-temporal artery granulomatous
vasculitis, can cause ipsilateral blindness (ophthalmic artery)
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-geriatric inflammatory disorder of
the muscles and joints characterized by pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders,
upper arms, and hips and thighs
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-•Dg should be considered in pt > 50 years
with:
•New headaches
•Abrupt onset of visual disturbances, especially transient monocular visual loss
•Jaw claudication
•Unexplained fever, anemia, or other constitutional symptoms and signs
•High ESR and/or CRP
•Current or prior PMR
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-MC vasculitis
thickened and nodular temporal arteries
ischemic optic neuropathy (swollen optic disc with blurred margins)
symptoms: anorexia or weight loss, night sweats, weakness, depression -
CORRECT ANSWER-What is seen on PE with GCA?
giant cell arteritis - CORRECT ANSWER-MC rheumatic cause of fever of unknown
origin in elderly
ESR > 100
mild to moderate anemia
increased platelets - CORRECT ANSWER-What is seen with labs in GCA?
•Age >/= 50 at time of onset
•Localized headache of new onset
•Tenderness or decreased TA pulse
, stuvia.com/user/BRAINSCAPE1
•ESR > 50 mm/hour
•Positive TA biopsy with necrotizing arteritis & mononuclear cells or a
granulomatous process with multinucleated giant cells - CORRECT ANSWER-
ACR criteria for CGA
prednisone
do not delay tx
temporal artery biopsy within 2-4 weeks
steroid sparing med: Tocilizumab
®Prednisone start 1 mg/kg/day (typically 60mg/day)
®Methyprednisolone 1000 mg IV for visual loss prevention
®Prednisone should be tapered slowly over 1-2 years (minimum)
®Relapses common 1-2 years after diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWER-1st line tx of
GCA
Tocilizumab - CORRECT ANSWER-MOA: IL-6 receptor antagonist
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-Age greater than 50 years
Pain and stiffness > 4 weeks duration in muscles of the neck , shoulder girdle,
and pelvic girdle-symmetric fashion
Dramatic clinical response to small doses of prednisone
50% - CORRECT ANSWER-polymyalgia rheumatic occurs in what % of patients
with GCA?
15% - CORRECT ANSWER-What % of patients with PMR will develop GCA?
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-clincal manifestations include:
®Proximal muscle stiffness
®Malaise, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia
®High spiking fevers- consider GCA
®Swelling of the hands, wrists, ankles and top of feet
®Moderate to high elevation in ESR and CRP
®Mild to moderate anemia
®Normal WBC
®ANA, RF, CPK are normal - CORRECT ANSWER-What lab findings are seen with
PMR?
polymyalgia rheumatica - CORRECT ANSWER-Age > 50
®Clinical symptoms of at least 2/3 areas:
®Neck or torso
®Shoulders or proximal regions of arms
®Hips or proximal aspects of thighs
®Elevated ESR
®Rapid response to prednisone
®Biopsy not indicated to r/o GCA
