Ocular Inflammation Associated with Polymyalgia Rheumatica without Concomitant Giant-Cell Arteritis: A Report of Three Cases.

PURPOSE: We report three cases of ocular inflammation and polymyalgia rheumatica without concomitant giant-cell arteritis.

METHODS: Report of three cases.

RESULTS: Polymyalgia rheumatica onset was at a mean age of 66.7 years, and ocular inflammation, which developed 7-21 months later, was bilateral in all patients. Ocular inflammation presented as episcleritis, scleritis, or anterior uveitis, and it emerged during the tapering of low-dose prednisolone prescribed for polymyalgia rheumatica in all patients. Recurrence of ocular inflammation was observed in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Ocular inflammation associated with polymyalgia rheumatica was often bilateral and occurred during steroid tapering. Although this presentation is relatively uncommon, polymyalgia rheumatica should be considered in the differential diagnosis of older patients presenting with ocular inflammation, especially those with proximal myalgia and elevated inflammatory markers.