Tuberculosis masquerading as polymyalgia rheumatica

Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a connective tissue disorder of unknown aetiology. It is hypothesized that, in a genetically predisposed person, its pathogenesis is triggered by an environmental factor, possibly a hitherto unknown infectious agent. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman who is being treated for PMR. She developed tubercular lymphadenitis and erythema nodosum and improved with antitubercular treatment. We hypothesize that the trigger for pathogenesis of PMR in this lady was antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Keywords

• pathogenesis, polymyalgia rheumatica, tuberculosis