Polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder causing pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips, usually in adults over 50. Symptoms often improve rapidly with low-dose glucocorticoids.

Giant cell arteritis: A systemic vasculitis of medium and large arteries that can cause headache, jaw pain, and vision loss. It co-occurs with polymyalgia rheumatica and can threaten vision, making its symptoms urgent to recognize.
Prednisone: An oral synthetic glucocorticoid used to reduce inflammation in a range of diseases. It is commonly used to control polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms, with dosage tapered to limit harm.
Shoulder girdle: The bones and muscles connecting the arms to the trunk, including the shoulder joints and shoulder blades. Bilateral pain and stiffness in this region are central features of the disorder.
Interleukin 6: A signaling protein involved in immune responses, inflammation, and the production of acute-phase proteins. Its inflammatory signaling may contribute to disease activity and provides a target for steroid-sparing therapy.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: A blood test that estimates inflammation by measuring how quickly red blood cells settle. It is often elevated in polymyalgia rheumatica, though a normal result does not exclude the diagnosis.
Ultrasonography: An imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to show structures inside the body. Shoulder and hip ultrasound can reveal bursitis or synovitis that supports the diagnosis.
Hip girdle: The pelvis and associated muscles and joints that connect the legs to the trunk. Pain and stiffness around the hips commonly accompany shoulder symptoms.
Relapsing polychondritis: A rare autoimmune disorder causing recurrent inflammation and damage of cartilage throughout the body. Its inflammatory biology offers a contrast to the still incompletely understood causes of polymyalgia rheumatica.
C-reactive protein: A blood protein whose concentration rises in response to inflammation. It commonly supports the diagnosis and helps track inflammatory activity during treatment.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: An imaging test that estimates bone mineral density using two X-ray energy levels. Prolonged glucocorticoid treatment can weaken bones, so bone-density assessment may guide prevention.

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