Polymyalgia rheumatica

Background

  • Chronic inflammatory condition
  • Primarily affects elderly


Clinical Features

  • Onset abrupt or subacute (weeks-months)
  • Proximal myalgia primarily of hip and shoulder girdles
  • Morning stiffness
  • Giant cell arteritis develops in approximately 15% of patients with PMR[1]
  • +/- constitutional symptoms (fatigue/malaise, low-grade fever, anorexia)
  • +/- [[anemia
  • Rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms (joint pain/swelling, degenerative changes) in 30% of patients[2]

Differential Diagnosis

Myalgia

Evaluation

  • Clinical diagnosis
  • Evaluate for alternate diagnoses

Management

  • Low-dose Corticosteroids typically produce rapid response[3]
  • Avoid NSAIDs if history of or concern for GCA due to risk of renal injury

Disposition

  • Discharge

See Also


References

  1. Dejaco C, Duftner C, Buttgereit F, Matteson EL, Dasgupta B. The spectrum of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: revisiting the concept of the disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2017 Apr 1. 56 (4):506-515
  2. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/polymyalgia-rheumatica/
  3. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/330815-overview
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