Polymyalgia rheumatica is a type of inflammatory condition that falls under the category of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are characterized by unexplained inflammation resulting from overactive immune responses. Polymyalgia rheumatica is closely related to giant cell arteritis, and the two conditions may be variations of the same disease, explains MayoClinic.com. Although the two conditions may share a similar cause, they result in different symptoms.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by pain and stiffness of the large joints of the body, especially the hips and shoulders. The pain and stiffness may spread to nearby muscles in the arms and legs, which is known as referred pain, according to MayoClinic.com. The exact cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is unknown, but is most likely related to the immune system mistakenly attacking tissues in the affected joints. The disease occurs almost exclusively in people over 50 years of age, reports MedlinePlus. In some cases, no obvious symptoms of inflammation may occur, while other cases may display obvious signs of inflammatory arthritis.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Giant cell arteritis is similar to polymyalgia rheumatica, except that instead of inflammation occurring in joints, it occurs in the lining of the arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, explains MayoClinic.com. Similar to polymyalgia rheumatica, the cause is unknown, but likely results from the immune system mistakenly attacking the lining of the arteries.
The condition often develops in the arteries in the head, particularly around the temples, leading to the alternate names of cranial arteritis or temporal arteritis. The symptoms of giant cell arteritis include severe head pain and tenderness, often in one or both temples. Fever, vision problems, appetite loss, fatigue and muscle aches may also occur, MedlinePlus reports.
Giant Cell Arteritis with Polymyalgia Rheumatic
Approximately 50 percent of patients with giant cell arteritis also develop polymyalgia rheumatica, according to the Vasculitis Foundation. Conversely, roughly 15 percent of all patients with polymyalgia rheumatica also have giant cell arteritis. Both conditions typically respond well to treatment with corticosteroids, especially predinsone.
Treatment often continues for two to four weeks after symptoms have subsided. Symptoms return in 25 to 50 percent of patients, requiring additional treatment with corticosteroids. Stopping treatment too soon increases the likelihood of relapse, explains the Vasculitis Foundation.
