Polymyalgia rheumatica (pmr)

General or Other | Rheumatology | Polymyalgia rheumatica (pmr) (Disease)


Description

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition which causes inflammation of large muscles. Poly means many, and myalgia means muscle pain.

Causes and Risk factors

The cause of PMR is not known. PMR mainly affects people over the age of 65. It is rare in people under 50. About 1 in 1,000 people over the age of 50 develops PMR each year. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

Diagnosis and Treatment

No blood test is 100% reliable for PMR. However, blood tests called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test and the C-reactive protein (CRP) test can detect if there is inflammation in your thefrom various diseases. If either of these blood tests shows a high level of inflammation, and a person has the typical symptoms, then this usually confirms the diagnosis of PMR.

The outlook for polymyalgia rheumatica is very good and the symptoms usually improve quickly if treated with steroid tablets (oral corticosteroids). Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica will need to take a long-term course of corticosteroids (one to two years) to prevent their symptoms returning. ...