EULAR ACR classification criteria for Polymyalgia Rheumatica
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for PMR?
Unfortunately PMR is still a diagnosis of exclusion and is based on the patient’s clinical presentation and elevated inflammatory markers.
Recently, experts from the ACR and EULAR have established provisional classification criteria by using a point system to help in research studies. All patients were required to have the first three criteria:
- a. Age ≥50 years.
- b. Bilateral shoulder discomfort.
- c. Abnormal ESR or CRP.
The point system applies to the presence of morning stiffness (2 points), hip pain (1 point), absence of RF/ACPA (2 points), and absence of other joint pain (1 point).
The diagnostic accuracy of the required three criteria plus at least 4 points of the scored criteria yielded a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 78%. Addition of shoulder ultrasound looking for bursitis only marginally increases the diagnostic accuracy.
