Rheumatoid arthritis masquerading as polymyalgia rheumatica: report of two cases

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a syndrome rather than a specific entity. The cases of two elderly patients are reported. These patients presented with typical polymyalgia rheumatica, but later were shown to have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly may first masquerade as polymyalgia rheumatica.