Clinical characteristics of patients with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema compared to patients with pure polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To compare clinical features of patients with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) and patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and to explore the purported association between RS3PE and malignancy.

Methods: We did a retrospective chart review of patients with RS3PE and PMR treated in a community-based hospital between January 2000 and December 2009. Outcomes assessed were clinical course of disease and associated malignancies.