Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

The co-existing illness characterized by severe muscle aching and stiffness, fever, and weight loss in temporal arteritis patients is known as?

1. Rheumatoid arthritis

2. Fibromyalgia

3. Polymyalgia rheumatica

4. Chronic fatigue syndrome

The correct answer is: Polymyalgia rheumatica

The correct answer is Polymyalgia rheumatica. This condition is closely associated with temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis. Polymyalgia rheumatica presents with symptoms such as severe muscle aching and stiffness, fever, and weight loss, making it highly relevant in the context of patients who have temporal arteritis. Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica often occur together because they share similar underlying inflammatory processes and can have overlapping clinical features, particularly in older adults. The stiffness and muscle pain typically associated with polymyalgia rheumatica can significantly impact the quality of life, and its recognition is essential for appropriate management in patients also diagnosed with temporal arteritis. Other options like rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia encompass different symptoms and mechanisms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is primarily characterized by profound fatigue and does not typically feature the specific combination of muscle pain, stiffness, and systemic signs like fever seen in polymyalgia rheumatica. Therefore, the association and symptomatology align most closely with polymyalgia rheumatica in the context of temporal arteritis.