What autoimmune condition is polyarteritis nodosa associated with?

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is primarily associated with hepatitis B infection. This association is significant because PAN is a systemic vasculitis that can occur as a complication of chronic viral infections. Hepatitis B is known to induce a hypersensitivity reaction leading to vasculitis, which can affect multiple organ systems. The involvement of hepatitis B in PAN suggests that the viral antigens may trigger an autoimmune response that leads to inflammation of medium-sized muscular arteries.

In contrast, while the other conditions mentioned—rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriasis—are also autoimmune diseases, they do not have the same specific and established association with polyarteritis nodosa as hepatitis B does. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can involve vascular changes and may lead to secondary complications that involve blood vessels, but they are not frequently linked to PAN in the same way. Psoriasis is primarily a skin condition and, while it is associated with other systemic inflammatory diseases, it lacks a direct correlation with PAN. Thus, hepatitis B stands out as the key association with polyarteritis nodosa.