Differentiating Polymyalgia rheumatica from other diseases

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) must be differentiated from other conditions such as late onset rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema.

Differentiating Polymyalgia Rheumatica from other Diseases

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) must be differentiated from other conditions such as late onset rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema.[1][2][3][4]

Differentiating polymyalgia rheumatica on the basis of fatigue and chronic pain

Disease Differentiating signs and symptoms Diagnostic findings
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Fibromyalgia
  • All lab tests are normal
Rheumatoid arthritis
SLE
Chronic fatigue syndrome Fatigue plus 4 of the following symptoms:
  • Diagnosis of exclusions
  • Symptoms must present for more than 6 months
Spondyloarthritis
Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative joint changes on x-ray
Hypothyroidism
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis
Neuropathy

Differentiating polymyalgia rheumatica from other causes of inflammatory myopathy

Organ system Disease Symptoms History Physical

Examination

Diagnosis
Age of onset Muscle weakness Fever Myalgia Contractures Gait abnormality Neuropathy Atrophy Stiffness Myoglobinuria Other features Laboratory Findings Creatine Kinase Muscle Biopsy Electromyogram
Inflammatory/ Rheumatologic Polymyalgia Rheumatica[5] 50s Diffuse + + +
  • History of joints stiffness, worse in the morning
  • Restricted shoulder motion
  • Normal
  • Normal
  • Normal
Dermatomyositis[6] 40s−50s
Can affect children
Proximal + + +
  • ↑↑
  • Perimysial mononuclear infiltrate
Polymyositis[7] > 18 years Proximal + + +
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • ↑↑
  • Endomysial mononuclear infiltrate
  • Patchy necrosis
Inclusion body myositis[8] 50s Proximal
&
distal
  • N/A
  • Antibodies to cytoplasmic 5'−nucleotidase
  • ↑↑
Fibromyalgia[9] 40−50s Generalized +
  • Normal
  • Normal
  • Normal
  • Normal
Organ system Disease Age of onset Muscle weakness Fever Myalgia Contractures Gait abnormality Neuropathy Atrophy Stiffness Myoglobinuria Other features History Physical

Examination

Laboratory Findings Creatine Kinase Muscle Biopsy Electromyogram

References

  1. Pease CT, Haugeberg G, Montague B; et al. (2009). "Polymyalgia rheumatica can be distinguished from late onset rheumatoid arthritis at baseline: results of a 5-yr prospective study". Rheumatology (Oxford). 48 (2): 123–7. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken343. PMID 18980958. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. Pease CT, Haugeberg G, Morgan AW, Montague B, Hensor EM, Bhakta BB (2005). "Diagnosing late onset rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and temporal arteritis in patients presenting with polymyalgic symptoms. A prospective longterm evaluation". J. Rheumatol. 32 (6): 1043–6. PMID 15940765. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. Sørensen CD, Hansen LH, Hørslev-Petersen K (2010). "[Myositis as differential diagnosis in polymyalgia rheumatica]". Ugeskr. Laeg. (in Danish). 172 (42): 2899–900. PMID 21040663. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. Hopkinson ND, Shawe DJ, Gumpel JM (1991). "Polymyositis, not polymyalgia rheumatica". Ann. Rheum. Dis. 50 (5): 321–2. PMC 1004419. PMID 2042988. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. Myklebust G, Gran JT (1996). "A prospective study of 287 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis: clinical and laboratory manifestations at onset of disease and at the time of diagnosis". Br J Rheumatol. 35 (11): 1161–8. PMID 8948307.
  6. Dalakas MC (1991). "Polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion-body myositis". N Engl J Med. 325 (21): 1487–98. doi:10.1056/NEJM199111213252107. PMID 1658649.
  7. Dalakas MC (1991). "Polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion-body myositis". N Engl J Med. 325 (21): 1487–98. doi:10.1056/NEJM199111213252107. PMID 1658649.
  8. Dalakas MC (1991). "Polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion-body myositis". N Engl J Med. 325 (21): 1487–98. doi:10.1056/NEJM199111213252107. PMID 1658649.
  9. Ohara N, Katada S, Yamada T, Mezaki N, Suzuki H, Suzuki A, Hanyu O, Yoneoka Y, Kawachi I, Shimohata T, Kakita A, Nishizawa M, Sone H (2016). "Fibromyalgia in a Patient with Cushing's Disease Accompanied by Central Hypothyroidism". Intern. Med. 55 (21): 3185–3190. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.55.5926. PMC 5140872. PMID 27803417.