风湿性多肌痛与巨细胞动脉炎

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are closely linked inflammatory disorders that almost always occur in people older than age 50. Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, upper arms, hip area, and sometimes the neck. The ache and stiffness are usually worse in the morning or when you have not been moving for a while. They can sometimes be very debilitating and tend to improve with activity. People with polymyalgia rheumatica sometimes have another disorder called giant cell arteritis, which is associated with inflammation of arteries, especially those located on each side of the head, scalp, and the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart) and its main branches. Headaches, scalp tenderness, and jaw pain are common features of giant cell arteritis. If the blood vessels that nourish the eyes are affected, there may be visual problems such as fleeting or permanent vision loss or double vision. It is important to seek treatment right away if you have visual symptoms, because if left untreated they may potentially lead to permanent blindness. Giant cell arteritis is also known as temporal arteritis and Horton disease. Both disorders generally respond well to treatment, although it is common for symptoms to recur after decreasing or stopping therapy.