Polymyalgia Rheumatica a form of Senile Arteritis?

SummaryFifteen cases of a myalgic syndrome with systemic reaction in elderly persons have been observed. The following features are emphasized:The invariably raised erythrocyte-sedimentation rate was parallelled by an increase of the α2-globulins in all the cases. An increase in γ-globulin was noted in several cases in the later phases of the disease. The hypochromic anemia was associated with low serum-iron and was refractory to oral iron therapy.Thrombocytosis was noted in 7 cases. Serological tests for the rheumatoid factor were negative. The most important consideration in the differential diagnosis concerns malignancy.Paulley and Hughes'hypothesis that polymyalgia rheumatica is a phase or variation of giant-cell arteritis is supported by the observation in the present series, namely manifestations of temporal arteritis and ophthalmic arteritis in 7 of the 15 cases. Three patients developed bilateral amaurosis, 2 of whom became permanently blind. Because of the risk of involvement of the ophthalmic ar...