Polymialgia Rheumatica, Giant Cell Arteritis or Both?

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

The subjects of the study were 112 patients with rheumatic polymyalgia (RPM) and giant-cell arteritis (GSA). The study shows that RPM and GSA are complicated by cerebral flow disturbances and myocardial infarction. Therapy with prednisolone and non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs reduces the risk of these complications and lethal outcome in patients with RPM and GSA.

Amyloidosis and giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica.

Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.

The close relationship between giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica has not been clearly explained. These disorders affect the same patient population and often coexist in the same person. Monitoring of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a useful tool in both diagnosis and treatment. Management with varying doses of prednisone has proved effective in resolving symptoms.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) — Comparison to Temporal Arteritis (Giant Cell Arteritis)

Giant cell arteritis (a.k.a., Horton’s temporal arteritis) belongs to the vasculitis group of diseases and affects the great vessels, especially branches of the carotid arteries in the head. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was formerly regarded as an independent disease. Nowadays, due to shared accumulations, it is also commonly assumed that these two diseases are caused by identical pathogeneses,...

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) — Comparison to Temporal Arteritis (Giant Cell Arteritis)

Giant cell arteritis (a.k.a., Horton’s temporal arteritis) belongs to the vasculitis group of diseases and affects the great vessels, especially branches of the carotid arteries in the head. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was formerly regarded as an independent disease. Nowadays, due to shared accumulations, it is also commonly assumed that these two diseases are caused by identical pathogeneses,...