[Polymyalgia rheumatica (arteritica)].
Polymyalgia rheumatica occurs mainly in patients older than 60 years of age. Differential diagnostically, the condition can be identified on the basis of a number of laboratory parameters (ESR, CRP, CK, autoantibodies) and, if the findings are not unequivocal, the additional use of electromyography and muscle biopsy. Some 40-50% of the patients have concomitant giant cell arteritis. Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica is glucocorticoids are applied, usually for a period of at least one year. The initial and the tapered dose is dependent on whether an associated arteritis is present.
Pongratz
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Friedrich-Baur-Institut der Medizinischen Fakultät an der Neurologischen Klinik und Poliklinik der LMU München. dieter.pongratz@fbs.med.uni-muenchen.de
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology