Are there any complications with polymyalgia rheumatica

 

About 1 in 20 people on treatment for PMR (and 7 in 20 with untreated PMR) develop giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis).  This is a related condition which causes inflammation of arteries (blood vessels).  The arteries most commonly affected are those which pass over the temples (the sides of the forehead next to the eyes).   The eye can be affected in some cases.  This can lead to serious eye problems, even blindness.  Rarely, other arteries such as those going to the brain are affected.  

 

 

What is the long term outlook?  With careful monitoring and appropriate treatment, most patients  with PMR have a normal life span and lifestyle.  The success of therapy is related to prompt diagnosis, aggressive treatment and careful follow-up to prevent or minimize side effects from the medications.

 

 

What is Giant Cell Arteritis?  Some people with PMR develop a related condition called giant cell arteritis which can be more serious. 

 

About 1 in 20 people on treatment for PMR  (and about 7 in 20 with untreated PMR) develop giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis).  This is a related condition which causes inflammation of arteries (blood vessels).  The arteries most commonly affected are those which pass over the temples (the sides of the forehead next to the eyes).  The eye can be affected in some cases.  This can lead to serious eye problems, even blindness.  Rarely, other arteries such as those going to the brain are affected.

 

If you develop giant cell arteritis, you should start treatment as soon possible after symptoms develop.  It is treated with a much higher dose of steroids than PMR.

 

Other symptoms.  Tell a doctor urgently if you develop any of the following symptoms.

 

¨ Headache or tenderness on one side of your head.

¨ Pain in your jaw when you chew which eases quickly when you rest the jaw muscles.

¨ Sudden loss of vision, or any other sudden visual problem in one eye.

¨ Weakness, numbness, deafness or any other nerve-related symptom.

 

 

The exact causes of PMR and GCA illnesses is unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

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