[Polymyalgia rheumatica: new possibilities for treatment, but not diagnosis].

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder, which predominantly occurs in patients aged 50 years and older. It can be difficult to differentiate PMR from other diseases, for general practitioners as well as for rheumatologists. Arteritis temporalis should not be overlooked in these patients, since missing this diagnosis may lead to irreversible visual loss. The majority of patients in whom PMR is suspected respond well to treatment with prednisone 15 mg per day. Methotrexate is an attractive alternative in patients who do not respond to prednisone or who experience side-effects due to prednisone.