[Polymyalgia rheumatica].

Polymyalgia rheumatica is the most frequent inflammatory disease of people over 50 years of age. It mainly affects the Caucasian race and roughly 2-3 times as many women. From the viewpoint of etiology, polymyalgia rheumatica is a complex disease. Involved in its origin is genetic predisposition, factors of age and outer environment. 16-21 % of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica may at the same time have symptoms of giant cell arteritis. Diagnosis is made primarily on the basis of clinical symptoms and it is supported by the presence of laboratory signs of inflammation. There is no specific diagnostic test available for diagnosing polymyalgia rheumatica. In recent time modern imaging devices, e.g. ultrasonography or positron emission tomography, can be used in diagnosing the disease. In the past a number of diagnostic and classification criteria were established which may be used in diagnosing of polymyalgia rheumatica in general practice. The differential diagnostics of the disease is extensive. Before the treatment commencement it is necessary to rule out the presence of another disease with manifestations simulating polymyalgia rheumatica. The treatment strategy should draw on the current EULAR/ACR Recommendations for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica issued in 2015.Key words: polymyalgia rheumatica - positron emission tomography - prognosis - treatment - ultrasonography.