对皮质类固醇治疗试验的反应通常明显而快速,一般在 24-72 小时内产生。这可能是一项有助于诊断的发现(且至少是一项指南中的诊断标准[19]Jones JG, Hazleman BL. Prognosis and management of polymyalgia rheumatica. Ann Rheum Dis. 1981;40:1-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7469518?tool=bestpractice.com),可据此鉴别风湿性多肌痛与其他炎症性疾病。[4]Cimmino MA, Zaccaria A. Epidemiology of polymyalgia rheumatica. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2000;18:S9-S11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10948749?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Weyand CM, Hicok KC, Hunder GG, et al. Tissue cytokine patterns in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. Ann Intern Med. 1994;121:484-491.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8067646?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Dejaco C, Duftner C, Wipfler E, et al. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in polymyalgia rheumatica: novel insight into complex pathogenesis but questionable use in predicting relapses. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007;46:559-560.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/46/4/559http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17114802?tool=bestpractice.com