Highlights & Basics
- Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatologic syndrome. Affected patients describe difficulty rising from seated or prone positions, significant shoulder and hip girdle stiffness, varying degrees of muscle tenderness, shoulder/hip bursitis, and/or oligoarthritis.
- More common in women.
- About 15% to 20% of patients with PMR have giant cell arteritis (GCA); 40% to 60% of GCA patients have PMR.
- Diagnosis is made via history and with supportive laboratory tests indicating an elevated ESR or CRP.
- Rapid improvement often occurs within 24 to 72 hours with low-dose prednisone.
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Citations
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Buttgereit F, Dejaco C, Matteson EL, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: A systematic review. JAMA. 2016 Jun 14;315(22):2442-58.[Abstract]
Dejaco C, Singh YP, Perel P, et al; European League Against Rheumatism; American College of Rheumatology. 2015 recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67:2569-2580.[Abstract][Full Text]
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