Rheumatic polymyalgia

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a clinical syndrome characterized by pain in the extremities and the proximal trunk. Generally includes the following 3 points: onset of age 50 or over; pain and morning stiffness in 2 of the 3 susceptible areas of the scapular belt, pelvic belt, and neck, over 30 minutes, lasting more than 1 month; Evidence of systemic reactions such as an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation of more than 40 mm / h or 50 mm / h. In addition to giant cell arteritis (GCA), if there are other specific diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic infection, polymyositis, or malignant tumors, the diagnosis of rheumatic polymyalgia can be ruled out. PMR and GCA are closely related. About 1/4 of PMR eventually develops into GCA, and 40% of GCA can show PMR performance. Therefore, some people think that PMR and GCA are different manifestations of the same disease, that is, PMR is only one of the clinical manifestations of GCA. But others have suggested that they are independent diseases.