Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Microscopic polyangiitis initiated with liver dysfunction, calf pain and fever of unknown origin

We report herein a case of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), presenting onset with a spiking fever, liver/biliary dysfunction without jaundice and calf pain without elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase. During 1 month of careful examinations for initial diagnosis, the patient developed renal dysfunction and pulmonary hemorrhage. Based on the results of positive MPO-ANCA, renal and pulmonary involvements, the patient was diagnosed with MPA and treated with high-dose prednisolone and oral cyclophosphamide. Soon after initiation of the treatment, symptoms such as fever, calf pain, liver/biliary dysfunction and renal dysfunction disappeared with decrease of MPO-ANCA titer to the normal level.

Giant cell arteritis in northwestern Spain: a 25-year epidemiologic study

To continue our investigation of the epidemiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in southern Europe, we assessed the potential presence of trends, peaks, and fluctuations in the incidence of this vasculitis over a 25-year period in the Lugo region of northwestern Spain. We also sought to determine whether changes in the clinical spectrum of the disease existed. From 1981 to 2005, biopsy-proven GCA was diagnosed in 255 Lugo residents. The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate was 10.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.93-11.46) per 100,000 population aged 50 years and older. The mean age +/- SD at the time of diagnosis was 75.0 +/- 6.9 years. The annual incidence rate in women (10.23; 95% CI, 8.60-12.08) was slightly greater than that in men (9.92; 95% CI, 8.19-11.89) (p = 0.15). The annual incidence rate increased with advancing age up to a maximum of 23.16 (95% CI, 19.52-27.28) in the 70-79 year age-group. A progressive increase in the incidence was observed from 1981 through 2000 (p = 0.001). However, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate for biopsy-proven GCA in the Lugo region did not show peaks in the annual incidence of GCA. Likewise, we observed no seasonal pattern for the diagnosis of the disease. Visual ischemic manifestations and irreversible visual loss were observed in 57 (22.4%) and 32 (12.5%) of the 255 patients, respectively. A negative trend manifested by a progressive decline in the number of patients with visual ischemic manifestations (p = 0.021) or permanent visual loss (p = 0.018) was found over the 25-year period of study. The decline in the frequency of visual manifestations of GCA could not be attributed to a shorter delay to diagnosis, as no significant differences were observed when the delays to diagnosis in the 5 consecutive 5-year periods were compared. In conclusion, the current study confirms a progressive increase in the incidence of biopsy-proven GCA in northwestern Spain, and suggests that there has been a change in the clinical spectrum of the disease.

Diffuse pain syndromes in the elderly

Diffuse pain syndromes are common in older persons. Fibromyalgia and PMR are the most common but other inflammatory, endocrine and neoplastic diseases may cause diffuse pain as well. A thorough history and physical examination, screening laboratories and response to a trial of low-dose steroids may help to differentiate between syndromes. Fibromyalgia may be a secondary phenomenon associated with some of the other diffuse pain syndromes. This should be kept in mind if a patient fails to respond appropriately to treatments directed at a particular disease.

Spondyloarthropathy presenting as a polymyalgia rheumatica-like syndrome

Two female patients, aged 57 and 58 year-old presented with pain and stiffness in shoulder and/or pelvic girdles and a high ESR, suggesting polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The lack of response to low dose of steroids prompted us to reconsider this diagnosis and, after a careful evaluation and taking into account past clinical history, a final diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) was made. The clinical spectrum of late SpA is heterogeneous, and in some instances may present as a polymyalgia-like syndrome.

Polymyalgia rheumatica in patients with a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the frequency of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; < or = 30 mm/hour) and to determine any defining clinical characteristics.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review study of all patients meeting the clinical criteria for PMR seen over a 5-year period in a hospital and an office-based rheumatology practice.

RESULTS

We evaluated 117 patients; 26 (22.2%) had a pretreatment ESR of < or = 30 mm/hour (mean +/- SD 19.8 +/- 7.5 versus 74.4 +/- 30.3 mm/hour for elevated ESR group; P<0.0001). Of the 26 normal ESR patients, 15 (58%) were female compared with 74 of the 91 elevated ESR patients (81%) (P<0.02, by Fisher's exact test). The mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the elevated ESR population (mean +/- SD 1.23 +/- 0.15 gm/liter versus 1.38 +/- 0.11 gm/liter; P<0.0001). The duration of symptoms prior to treatment with prednisone was significantly longer for patients with a normal ESR (149 +/- 95 days versus 103 +/- 95 days for elevated ESR patients; P<0.04).

CONCLUSION

In our series, PMR with a normal ESR accounted for approximately one-fifth of all PMR patients, more commonly in men. The lack of characteristically abnormal laboratory findings may result in a delay in the proper diagnosis and management of this condition.

Aortic dissection in giant-cell arteritis

Twenty-three cases of aortic dissection in patients with giant-cell arteritis are reviewed and an additional case is reported. Forty-six percent presented catastrophically with aortic dissection and no prior history of giant cell arteritis. Eighty percent died within 2 weeks of the event; four patients had successful surgical grafts. There was diffuse involvement of the aorta with giant cells in 89%, but dissecting tears occurred primarily in the proximal aorta in 85% of cases. The majority of cases with a preceding history of giant cell arteritis were on low doses of steroid or on no treatment at the time of dissection, and the median erythrocyte sedimentation rate of these patients was 62 mm/h (range 21-98). Evidence of some form of hypertension, whether acute or chronic, mild or severe, was found in 77% of patients. Inadequate treatment of giant-cell arteritis and underlying hypertension (treated or untreated) are potential factors leading to aortic dissection in these patients.