Polymyalgia rheumatica

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Polymyalgia rheumatica
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Muscle pain, stiffness in the shoulders, neck, and hips
Complications	N/A
Onset	Usually after age 50
Duration	Can last several years
Types	N/A
Causes	Unknown, possibly autoimmune disease
Risks	Age, female gender, Northern European descent
Diagnosis	Clinical diagnosis, blood tests showing elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP)
Differential diagnosis	Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, giant cell arteritis
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Good with treatment, but may require long-term therapy
Frequency	Affects about 0.5% of people over 50
Deaths	N/A

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a rare disease of the elderly, characterized by muscle stiffness and pain in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck.

Overview of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a rheumatic disorder associated with pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip area. Stiffness is most noticeable in the morning or after resting. You may also have a fever, weakness, and weight loss. This disorder may develop rapidly; in some people it comes on literally overnight. But for most people, it develops more gradually. People with polymyalgia rheumatica often have giant cell arteritis, a disorder associated with inflammation of arteries located on each side of the head.

Who Gets Polymyalgia Rheumatica?

Women are more likely than men to develop polymyalgia rheumatica. This disease mostly affects people over the age of 50, with highest rates at 70 to 80 years of age.

Symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica can include:

• Pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip area.
• Flu-like symptoms, including fever, weakness, and weight loss.

Causes of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Researchers don’t know what causes polymyalgia rheumatica. It is associated with:

• Immune system problems.
• Genes.
• Environmental triggers, such as an infection.
• Aging processes.

Diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

There is no single test for polymyalgia rheumatica. To diagnose you with the disease, your doctor may:

• Ask you about your medical history.
• Give you a physical examination.
• Take blood to run different tests that measure:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate): a test that measures inflammation by seeing how quickly red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube of unclotted blood. C-reactive protein levels. Rheumatoid factor protein levels to rule out rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is treated by medications including:

• Corticosteroids such as prednisone. You will start with a low daily dose that is increased as needed until symptoms disappear. Your doctor may then gradually reduce the dosage, and you will probably stop taking the medication after six months to two years. Your doctor will put you back on the corticosteroid if symptoms reappear with lower doses of the medication. You will stop taking the medicine when symptoms clear up completely.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen. The medication must be taken daily, and long-term use may cause stomach irritation. For most patients, NSAIDs alone are not enough to relieve symptoms.

Even without treatment, polymyalgia rheumatica usually disappears within one to several years. With treatment, however, symptoms disappear quickly, usually in 24 to 48 hours. If corticosteroids don’t bring improvement, the doctor is likely to consider other possible diagnoses.

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