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Polymyalgia Rheumatica

ADULT

Minimum Referral Criteria

  • Category 1
    (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Category 2
    (appointment within 90 calendar days)
    • New onset Polymyalgia Rheumatica with typical shoulder/hip girdle features with raised ESR/CRP
    • Known and treated PMR established on steroids requiring further escalation of management or currently on a DMARD
  • Category 3
    (appointment within 365 calendar days)
    • No defined category 3 criteria

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Relevant history of onset, recurrence, acuity (muscle pain, morning stiffness, headaches, amaurosis fugax)
  • Details of treatments offered including glucocorticoids initial dose, tapering and current dose and/or DMARDS (if available)
  • FBC, E/LFT, ESR and CRP

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • TFTs, CK, RF, Anti-CCP, Serum EPP
  • Other screening previously performed including CXR, HepB, HepC, HIV, QuantiFERON Gold (QFG), Bone density (if available)
  • Cancer screening information

4. Request

Last updated: 13 June 2023