ABSTRACT
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a clinical syndrome comprising a number of different features including:
■ stiffness and pain in shoulder and pelvic girdles; ■ associated systemic features of debility, weight loss, tiredness and low grade fever; ■ raised ESR. The diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica can be supported by a dramatic response to cortico-steroids. Stiffness is often the main feature and there may be some tenderness of the affected muscles. The joints themselves are not usually affected.
