[Polymyalgia rheumatica, Takayasu's disease and the aortic arch syndrome]

The authors discuss the causes of the aortal arch syndrome in a 65-year-old female patient, whom they observed in conjunction with rheumatic polymyalgia probably associated with Takayasu's disease. During corticoid treatment subjective as well as objective symptoms receded. When the doses were reduced, the original clinical symptoms and laboratory findings reappeared. It is probable that this course escapes attention and is ascribed to other diagnosis. If more attention will be paid to the aortal arch syndrome, it will be possible to diagnose it more often.