Presence of subclinical giant cell arteritis in patients with morning stiffness of duration less than 45 minutes at the time of diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica.

In our study MS < 45 min at the time of PMR diagnosis was associated with a significantly lower risk of subclinical GCA, when patients were screened by ultrasound, of approximately 90%. Identification of a more accurate MS cut-off value could improve the accuracy for subclinical GCA in patients with newly diagnosed PMR.