title: Increased RAHA titer and interleukin-6 levels in the synovial fluid in a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica.
abstract: We report a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) accompanied by an increased Rheumatoid Arthritis Hemagglutinin Test (RAHA) titer and interleukin-6 level in the synovial fluid. A 60-year-old female was admitted because of polymyalgia, a body temperature of 39.2 degrees C, and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased to 94 mm/h. Since a muscle biopsy failed to show a specific finding, she was diagnosed as PMR. The titer of RAHA and the interleukin-6 level were increased only in the synovial fluid; prednisolone treatment decreased both. The present case raised the possibility that a similar mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis may involve the development of synovitis in PMR.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zen-nyoji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D011239:Prednisolone