One-half of the patients with Giant cell arteritis (GCA) present the condition of Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and 15 percent of the cases with PMR progress toward GCA. Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory rheumatologic condition that is diagnosed by existence of all below features:
Age at onset ≥ 50 years old
Pain and morning stiffness ≥ 30 minutes involving at least two areas of neck, shoulder girdle and hip girdle for at least two weeks or more
ESR ≥ 40 mm/hour
Dramatic response of symptoms to low-dose corticosteroids