Polymyalgia rheumatica. Abrupt and gradual withdrawal of prednisolone treatment, clinical and laboratory observations.

Eighteen patients with polymyalgia rheumatica had corticosteroid treatment withdrawn abruptly under close observation. In each case polymyalgic symptoms reappeared but were controlled rapidly when prednisolone was reintroduced. Prednisolone withdrawal was then started by slow decrements of dose. In no patient was it possible to withdraw prednisolone treatment, after using either method, during the period of observation.