title: Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymyalgia rheumatica is one of the most common rheumatic inflammatory disorders in people older than 50 years characterized by aching and prolonged morning stiffness in the shoulder and pelvic girdle and neck..
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, we will focus on recent advances on the diagnosis and management of PMR. Expert commentary: Controversy exist whether PMR represent a single entity disease or is an umbrella term that comprises a clinical presentation common to a range of related conditions (polymyalgic syndrome). To date there are no specific diagnostic tests, and the diagnosis remains clinical, although ultrasonography, positron emission tomography scan and the recent ACR/EULAR classification criteria may help to confirm the clinical diagnosis. A step-wise process for the diagnosis of PMR has been proposed. Low-dose steroids are highly effective in the majority of patients and remain the mainstay of treatment, but relapses occur in about 50% of patients and glucocorticoid related adverse event are common. The steroid sparing effects of the immunosuppressive treatment evaluated to date are unclear.
authors.affiliation: a Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine , Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico , Reggio Emilia , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: a Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine , Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico , Reggio Emilia , Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pazzola
authors.affiliation: a Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine , Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico , Reggio Emilia , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.affiliation: a Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine , Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico , Reggio Emilia , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013256:Steroids; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: PET; Polymyalgia rheumatica; classification criteria; giant cell arteritis; glucocorticoids; recommendations; tocilizumab; ultrasonography