title: Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: an in-depth look at diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an in-depth synthesis of the literature on polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) that will assist the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) in recognizing the variety of symptom presentations, accurately evaluating laboratory data, developing a plan of care that includes current treatment guidelines, and adroitly managing patients for improved outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thorough search of the literature was conducted including MEDLINE, CIHAHL, and PubMed encompassing the decades from the 1970s to the present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the varied and vague symptom presentations of PMR and GCA, primary healthcare providers often misdiagnose these pathologies, delaying treatment and relief of suffering. Textbooks descriptions often omit supplemental content necessary to understand the intricacies of the presenting symptoms, diagnostic tests needed for work-up, and specific treatment for these overlapping pathologies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because PMR and GCA often present in the primary care setting, NPs must maintain a high index of suspicion when a patient over 60 years of age presents with vague complaints such as headache, weakness, anorexia, and malaise. Arriving at an accurate diagnosis in a timely fashion will lead to appropriate treatment and minimize patient suffering.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. kennes@musc.edu
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones