POLYMYALGIA-RHEUMATICA IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - A REPORT OF 5 CASES

Objective: To report the cases of 5 elderly male patients with ankylos ing spondylitis (AS) who developed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Mater ials and methods: The files of 5 patients with AS who developed PMR we re retrospectively reviewed. The demographic, clinical, laboratory cha racteristics and outcome of these patients were summarized. Results: A ll 5 patients were male, 65 - 80 years old at the time of their their PMR diagnosis. The diagnosis of AS was made simultaneously based on cl inical and radiological data, the age at onset of symptoms retrospecti vely attributable to AS was 20 - 40 years in three cases, while in the two other patients it could not be determined. The patients presented with typical symptoms of PMR and responded to steroid treatment. HLA B27 was found in three cases, while HLA DR did not show a consistent p attern. Conclusions: The coexistence of AS and PMR could be more than coincidental. Further screening of both patient populations is needed to assess the true extent of this preliminary observation.