Polymyalgia rheumatica in a husband and wife

The case histories of an unrelated husband and wife in whom polymyalgia rheumatica developed within one month are described. In the wife, giant-cell arteritis was present. The clinical courses were similar and there was a typical good response to treatment with prednisone. Both patients were HLA-B8. Only the husband had positive hepatitis-Bs antibody. The aetiology of the disease is discussed in relation to tissue antigens and hepatitis-B infection.