Polymyalgia rheumatica. Clinical features and management

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a clinical syndrome that occurs almost exclusively in older patients. It is characterized by muscle aching and stiffness and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It must be distinguished from other common disorders, particularly polymyositis, fibromyalgia, and other chronic inflammatory or neoplastic diseases. A temporal artery biopsy should be done in patients with confirmed polymyalgia rheumatica and suspected coexistent temporal arteritis, which can have serious manifestations. Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica respond dramatically to low doses of corticosteroids, although prolonged daily treatment often may be needed.