[Hutchinson-Horton giant cell arteritis and rhizomelic polymyalgia. II. Rhizomelic polymyalgia. Arteritic polymyalgia].

Rhizomelic polymyalgia is an inflammatory form. Its site of choice is the shoulder girdle and it is almost solely observed in elderly subjects. An account is given of its epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects. Its aetiology is also discussed with particular reference to its possible immunological or vascular origin. The rheumatic symptoms of rhizomelic polymyalgia are similar to those observed in temporal arteritis. Since artery lesions are found in most cases, the name "polymyalgia arteritica" has been suggested as an alternative clinical description by Hamrin .