[Polymyalgia rheumatica (arteritica)].

Polymyalgia rheumatica occurs mainly in patients older than 60 years of age. Differential diagnostically, the condition can be identified on the basis of a number of laboratory parameters (ESR, CRP, CK, autoantibodies) and, if the findings are not unequivocal, the additional use of electromyography and muscle biopsy. Some 40-50% of the patients have concomitant giant cell arteritis. Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica is glucocorticoids are applied, usually for a period of at least one year. The initial and the tapered dose is dependent on whether an associated arteritis is present.