Polymyalgaia rheumatica

Polymyalgaia rheumatica is a descriptive term for an aching syndrome usually seen in the elderly patients, with an elevated ESR that cannot be attributed to more defined rheumatic, infectious or neoplastic disorders. This disease is one type diseases of the connective tissues, bones and joints. It is more common in females than males. Some clinical features for these diseases are 1.Proximal myalgias are characteristic. There is chronic, symmetric, proximal muscle aching and stiffness usually involving shoulder and pelvic girdles and neck. But muscles may be tender on palpation; 2. Constitutional symptoms like malaise, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, fever and night sweats may be present; 3.Neuropsychiatric manifestations are frequent, particularly depression; 4.About 30-50% of these patients have associated temporal arteritis. Apart from this some investigations are made such as Elevated ESR more than 50mm/hour and normocytic normochromic anaemia, Tests for rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies may be positive, temporal artery biopsy may show evidence of giant cell arteritis and Muscle enzymes are characteristically normal. Some special treatments are available for these kinds of diseases. Best treatment is Prednisolone given at dose of 10-15 mg per day is rapidly effective, Prompt and dramatic clinical response is considered by some to be an absolute criterion for diagnosis.