Visual complications of polymyalgia rheumatica (polymyalgia arteritica)

Four case histories are reported in which patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (polymyalgia arteritic) developed evidence of cranial arteritis (in one case two years and in one six months) following withdrawal of steroid therapy after apparent cure. In three cases partial or complete loss of sight has resulted. Steroid therapy should not only be introduced rapidly at appropriate dosage levels as soon as the diagnosis is made but should not be reduced or discontinued prematurely.