Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Blindness

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Abstract
THE condition that is called by the English polymyalgia rheumatica and by the French pseudopolyarthrite rhizomélique and has had many synonyms1 is characterized by pain and stiffness in the muscles of the shoulder girdle, neck, back and, to a lesser degree, pelvic girdle in older patients. Aside from local muscle tenderness there are no notable physical signs. The only laboratory abnormality is a fast erythrocyte sedimentation rate – usually about 100 mm. per hour by the Westergren method. There is no evidence of inflammation in the muscles: the serum enzymes that often reflect muscle necrosis are normal; muscle biopsy shows . . .