Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for relapse in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

Outcomes of polymyalgia rheumatica in real-world practice: a longitudinal cohort study

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition closely linked with giant cell arteritis, which is a large vessel vasculitis. To provide real-world evidence on PMR outcomes and their determinants, we conducted a longitudinal study focusing on symptom relief and acute phase reactant normalization. Methods: We followed patients with PMR who were registered in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Vasculitis Registry (TUOMS-VR) until February 2023. We measured sustained remission (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes including glucocorticoids (GCs)-free remission, medication-free remission, relapse rate and disease-induced damage. Results: We identified eighty-one patients with PMR and followed them for a median time of 57 months. In a median duration of 3 weeks, 98.8% of patients achieved symptom control, with 86.4% achieving sustained remission in a median duration of 9 weeks. Sustained remission was more common in non-smokers and adherent to therapy patients. Relapse occurred in 22.1% of patients, primarily due to non-adherence. Medication-free remission was observed in 30.9% of patients, especially among females and those with an initial prednisolone dose > 15 mg/d. Damage occurred in 42.0% of patients. Conclusion: Although sustained remission in PMR is not an unattainable goal in daily practice and most patients are in remission at the last visit, two-thirds of patients require long-term treatment.

Relapses in giant cell arteritis: Updated review for clinical practice

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), the most common primary vasculitis in adults, is a granulomatous systemic vasculitis usually affecting the aorta and its major branches, particularly the carotid and vertebral arteries. Although remission can be achieved in most patients with GCA using high-dose glucocorticoids (GC), relapses are frequent, occurring in >40% of GC-only treated patients, mostly during the first two years after diagnosis. Relapsing courses lead to high GC exposure, increasing the risk of treatment-related adverse effects. Although tocilizumab is an efficacious GC-sparing therapy that allows increased sustained remission and reduced cumulative GC doses, relapses are common after drug discontinuation. This narrative review examines the most relevant features of relapses in GCA, including its definition, classification, frequency, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics, chronology, probable pathophysiology, and predictive factors. In addition, we discuss treatment options for relapsing patients and the effect of relapses on patient outcomes.

Polymyalgia rheumatica: An update (Review)

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the connective vascular tissue, characterized by pain accompanied by morning stiffness, predominantly of the neck muscles, hip and shoulder girdle. Usually, patients with this disease are >50 years of age and biological inflammatory syndrome is present with an increase in both the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels, aspects similar to giant cell arteritis. The aim of the present review was to depict the current pathogenic hypothesis, diagnostic and treatment approach for patients with PMR, and novelties since the development of the currently used 2012 European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology provisional classification criteria. PMR is a prevalent disease that can occasionally prove difficult to diagnose and treat. Possibly, the most abundant type of evidence and data revealed over the past decade have been acquired through musculoskeletal imaging, with implications in diagnosis, disease monitoring and relapse, prognosis and changes with treatment. Further research on pathophysiology is required to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying processes, which will serve as the foundation for future personalized treatments. In addition, there is an increasing demand for improved diagnostic techniques, which should include a further development of various imaging modalities, in order to provide accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disease producing pain and stiffness, mainly in the shoulders and pelvic girdle, in people older than 50 years. Elevation of acute phase reactants is common due to the inflammatory nature of the disease. Since there are no specific diagnostic tests, diagnosis requires the exclusion of other diseases with similar presentations. Imaging has helped to identify the pathological substrate of polymyalgia rheumatica and it is increasingly used to support clinical diagnosis or to detect coexistent giant cell arteritis. Although polymyalgia rheumatica does not clearly impair survival or organ function, it can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. Glucocorticoids at 12·5-25·0 mg prednisone per day are effective in inducing remission in most individuals but, when tapered, relapses occur in 40-60% of those affected and side-effects are common. Assessment of disease activity can be difficult because pain related to common comorbidities such as osteoarthritis and tendinopathies, can return when glucocorticoids are reduced, and acute phase reactants are increased less during flares in individuals undergoing treatment or might increase for other reasons. The role of imaging in assessing disease activity is not yet completely defined. In the search for more efficient and safer therapies, tocilizumab and sarilumab have shown efficacy in randomised controlled trials and additional targeted therapies are emerging. However, judicious risk-benefit balance is essential in applying therapeutic innovations to people with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Steroid-sparing agents in polymyalgia rheumatica: how will they fit into the treatment paradigm?

INTRODUCTION

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease in subjects aged 50 years or older and classically presents with shoulder and/or pelvic girdle pain and prolonged morning stiffness. Glucocorticoids represent the standard of treatment; glucocorticoid therapy is usually required for 1-2 years and often results in significant glucocorticoid-related side effects, especially in the elderly.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the management of polymyalgia rheumatica, with a particular focus on adjunctive therapies to the standard glucocorticoid treatment.

EXPERT OPINION

Given the high frequency of disease relapses (one-third of patients) and the adverse events related to prolonged glucocorticoid use, the need for glucocorticoid-sparing agents remains an important issue in the management of polymyalgia rheumatica. In selected patients, who are at risk for glucocorticoid-related side effects or in those with glucocorticoid-refractory disease, the addition of a glucocorticoid-sparing agent, either a synthetic or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, may represent a reasonable and effective therapeutic approach.

[Methods for assessment of disease activity of polymyalgia rheumatica]

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the second most frequent inflammatory rheumatic disease in old age. Remission and recurrence are frequently used as endpoints in clinical trials; however, there is as yet no international consensus on the definition of these states, which limits the comparability of published studies. The PMR activity score (PMR-AS) is the only composite score specifically developed for PMR, which together with remission is used to define low, middle and high disease activity. In recent studies the PMR-AS was often used and low disease activity was established as endpoint. The most important limitation of the PMR-AS is the potential influence of the individual variables by comorbidities. The value of C‑reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are of restricted value in studies using drugs that influence the interleukin 6 (IL-6) axis. In these cases, calprotectin and osteopontin are promising alternative biomarkers, as they have already been shown to reflect disease activity independently of CRP in rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, imaging modalities including sonography, magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography could also be helpful in monitoring disease activity; however, these techniques must first be validated in further studies. The PMR impact scale (PMR-IS) is a composite score to assess the impact of PMR on the patients; however, it has not yet been used in clinical studies. The development of additional patient reported outcomes (PRO) for PMR and the definition of standardized criteria for documentation of remission and recurrence are important questions in the future research agenda for PMR.

An update on polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting people older than 50 years and is 2-3 times more common in women. The most common symptoms are pain and morning stiffness in the shoulder and pelvic girdle and the onset may be acute or develop over a few days to weeks. General symptoms such as fatigue, fever and weight loss may occur, likely driven by systemic IL-6 signalling. The pathology includes synovial and periarticular inflammation and muscular vasculopathy. A new observation is that PMR may appear as a side effect of cancer treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. The diagnosis of PMR relies mainly on symptoms and signs combined with laboratory markers of inflammation. Imaging modalities including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with computed tomography are promising new tools in the investigation of suspected PMR. However, they are still limited by availability, high cost and unclear performance in the diagnostic workup. Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is effective in PMR, with most patients responding promptly to 15-25 mg prednisolone per day. There are challenges in the management of patients with PMR as relapses do occur and patients with PMR may need to stay on GC for extended periods. This is associated with high rates of GC-related comorbidities, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, and there are limited data on the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics as GC sparing agents. Finally, PMR is associated with giant cell arteritis that may complicate the disease course and require more intense and prolonged treatment.

(Dis)agreement of polymyalgia rheumatica relapse criteria, and prediction of relapse in a retrospective cohort

Background

To develop and assess a prediction model for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) relapse within the first year of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment.

Methods

A retrospective PMR cohort (clinical diagnosis) from a rheumatology department was used. All visits > 30 days after starting GC treatment and with > 2.5 mg/day oral prednisolone were used as potential relapse visits. Often used relapse criteria (1) rheumatologist judgement, (2) treatment intensification-based relapse) were assessed for agreement in this cohort. The proportion of patients with treatment-based relapse within 1 and 2 years of treatment and the relapse incidence rate were used to assess unadjusted associations with candidate predictors using logistic and Poisson regression respectively. After using a multiple imputation method, a multivariable model was developed and assessed to predict the occurrence (yes/no) of relapse within the first year of treatment.

Results

Data from 417 patients was used. Relapse occurred at 399 and 321 (of 2422) visits based on the rheumatologist judgement- and treatment-based criteria respectively, with low to moderate agreement between the two (87% (95% CI 0.86–0.88), with κ = 0.49 (95% CI 0.44–0.54)). Treatment-based relapse within the first two years was significantly associated with CRP, ESR, and pre-treatment symptom duration, and incidence rate with only CRP and ESR. A model to predict treatment intensification within the first year of treatment was developed using sex, medical history of cardiovascular disease and malignancies, pre-treatment symptom duration, ESR, and Hb, with an AUC of 0.60–0.65.

Conclusion

PMR relapse occurs frequently, although commonly used criteria only show moderate agreement, underlining the importance of a uniform definition and criteria of a PMR specific relapse. A model to predict treatment intensification was developed using practical predictors, although its performance was modest.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41927-022-00274-y.

PolyMyalgia Rheumatica treatment with Methotrexate in Optimal Dose in an Early disease phase (PMR MODE): study protocol for a multicenter double-blind placebo controlled trial

Background

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting people older than 50, resulting in pain and stiffness of the neck, shoulder, and pelvic girdle. To date, glucocorticoids (GC) remain the cornerstone of treatment, but these have several drawbacks. Firstly, a large proportion of patients do not achieve GC-free remission within either the first (over 70%) or second year of treatment (over 50%). Secondly, GC-related adverse events (AE) occur in up to 65% of patients and can be severe.

The current EULAR/ACR guidelines for PMR recommend early introduction of methotrexate (MTX) as a GC sparing agent in patients at risk for worse prognosis. However, earlier trials of low to medium quality only studied MTX dosages of 7.5–10 mg/week with no to modest effect. These doses may be suboptimal as MTX is recommended in higher doses (25 mg/week) for other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The exact role, timing, and dose of MTX in PMR remain unclear, and therefore, our objective is to study the efficacy of MTX 25 mg/week in recently diagnosed PMR patients.

Methods

We set up a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial (PMR MODE) to assess the efficacy of MTX 25 mg/week versus placebo in a 1:1 ratio in 100 recently diagnosed PMR patients according to the 2012 EULAR/ACR criteria. All patients will receive prednisolone 15 mg/day, tapered to 0 mg over the course of 24 weeks. In case of primary non-response or disease relapse, prednisolone dose will be temporarily increased. Assessments will take place at baseline, 4, 12, 24, 32, and 52 weeks. The primary outcome is the difference in proportion of patients in GC-free remission at week 52.

Discussion

No relapsing PMR patients were chosen, since the possible benefits of MTX may not outweigh the risks at low doses and effect modification may occur. Accelerated tapering was chosen in order to more easily identify a GC-sparing effect if one exists. A composite endpoint of GC-free remission was chosen as a clinically relevant endpoint for both patients and rheumatologist and may reduce second order (treatment) effects.

Trial registration

Dutch Trial Registration, NL8366. Registered on 10 February 2020

Feasibility and usefulness of a fast-track clinic for patients suspected of polymyalgia rheumatica: notes for a work schedule through a narrative review of published literature

Objectives

Fast-track clinics (FTC) have been introduced in different fields and have been reporting significant outcomes in terms of reducing mortality, morbidity, and financial costs. To date, scarce evidence is available for FTC specific for patients suspected of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The primary aim of our paper is to provide an overview of the clinical impact of PMR on patients and the healthcare system by analysing multiple aspects: the median time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and the burden of the disease both on the healthcare system costs and on patients' quality of life (QoL). Secondarily, based on these data, we aim to discuss the potential advantages and feasibility of a PMR FTC in everyday clinical practice.

Material and methods

We performed a narrative non-systematic review (PRISMA protocol not followed) of PubMed and Medline (OVID interface) with the following MeSH terms: [polymyalgia rheumatica AND diagnosis OR diagnosis, delayed OR patient care OR early diagnosis OR length of stay OR costs OR healthcare system OR quality of life] or [polymyalgia rheumatica AND glucocorticoids AND side effects]. We decided to exclude every paper that did not report raw data in terms of diagnostic time or delay, hospitalization rate, socio-economic costs on the healthcare system, patients' QoL, and glucocorticoids-related events in PMR patients. Papers focused primarily on giant cell arteritis patients with overlapping PMR were also excluded. Abstract archives of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) congresses of the last 10 years were screened and included in the search if raw data were available. Each paper's reference list was scanned for additional publications meeting this study's aims. When papers reported data partially presented in previous articles, we opted to use the most recently published data.

Results

According to our literature review, a PMR FTC might lighten the burden of the disease. Nevertheless, its feasibility depends mostly on the resources of the national health system and of the territorial health district, which are heterogeneously limited. The usefulness of PMR FTCs depends on closer collaboration with the general practitioner because he/she is the first clinician to visit patients with PMR.

Conclusions

Polymyalgia rheumatica fast-track clinics might lighten the burden of the disease. However, it has some limits that should carefully assessed in planning health policies.

Fracture Risk and Its Prevention Patterns in Korean Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the incidence of fractures and fracture risk factors in Korean patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

METHODS

All PMR patients who visited a rheumatology clinic at a tertiary referral hospital between March 2005 and March 2018 were retrospectively assessed. We estimated bone mineral density (BMD) screening rate within 6 months of the first visit and classified the patients according to the performance and results of BMD screening. Incidence rates (IRs) of fractures were calculated in each group and risk factors for fractures were identified using Poisson regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 95 PMR patients with median (interquartile range) age of 64.0 (56.0-72.0) years were included. Baseline BMD was assessed in only 55.8% of these patients (n = 53); 24 patients with osteoporosis, 20 with osteopenia, and 9 with normal BMD. During 433.1 person-years (PYs) of observation, 17 fractures occurred in 12 patients (IR, 3.93 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.46-6.26]/100 PYs); 8.32 (95% CI, 4.09-16.90)/100 PYs in the osteopenia group, 3.40 (95% CI, 1.30-8.90)/100 PYs in the osteoporosis group, and 3.37 (95% CI, 1.53-7.39)/100 PYs in the no BMD test group. Risk factors for fractures were female sex, advanced age (≥ 65 years), longer follow-up duration, initial glucocorticoid dose ≥ 10 mg/day, and higher cumulative glucocorticoid dose over the first 6 months.

CONCLUSION

The incidence rate of fractures in Korean patients with PMR was 3.93/100 PYs. Female sex, advanced age, longer follow-up duration, and increased glucocorticoid dose are risk factors for osteoporotic fracture.

Long-term glucocorticoid treatment and high relapse rate remain unresolved issues in the real-life management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, according to the PRISMA methodology, to summarize current evidence on the prevalence and predictors of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and disease relapses in the real-life management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Out of 5442 retrieved studies, 21 were eligible for meta-analysis and 24 for qualitative analysis. The pooled proportions of patients still taking GCs at 1, 2, and 5 years were respectively 77% (95%CI 71–83%), 51% (95%CI 41–61%), and 25% (95CI% 15–36%). No significant difference was recorded by distinguishing study cohorts recruited before and after the issue of the international recommendations in 2010. The pooled proportion of patients experiencing at least one relapse at 1 year from treatment initiation was 43% (95%CI 29–56%). Female gender, acute-phase reactants levels, peripheral arthritis, starting GCs dosage, and tapering speed were the most frequently investigated potential predictors of prolonged GC treatment and relapse, but with inconsistent results. Only a few studies and with conflicting results evaluated the potential role of early treatment with methotrexate in reducing the GC exposure and the risk of relapse in PMR.

This study showed that a high rate of prolonged GC treatment is still recorded in the management of PMR. The relapse rate, even remarkable, can only partially explain the long-term GC treatment, suggesting that other and not yet identified factors may be involved. Additional research is needed to profile patients with a higher risk of long-term GC treatment and relapse and identify more effective steroid-sparing strategies.

Key Points: • High rate of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is recorded in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), being 77%, 51%, and 25% of patients still on GCs after respectively 1, 2, and 5 years. • A pooled relapse rate of 43% at 1 year, even remarkable, can only partially explain the long-term GC treatment in PMR. • Several studies have attempted to identify potential predictors of prolonged treatment with GCs and relapse, but with inconsistent results. • Additional research is needed to profile patients with a higher risk of long-term GC treatment and relapse and identify more effective steroid-sparing strategies.

Predicting the risk of relapse in polymyalgia rheumatica: novel insights

INTRODUCTION

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common inflammatory disease found in people older than 50 years of Northern European descent. It is characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulders, arms, hips, and neck. Relapses are common in patients with PMR.

AREAS COVERED

This review describes when and how relapses occur in patients with PMR. Potential predisposing factors associated with relapses and management are also discussed. An extensive literature search on the PubMed database was conducted for publications on 'polymyalgia rheumatica' AND 'relapses' AND 'risk factors'.

EXPERT OPINION

Relapses are common in PMR being observed in approximately half of the patients. They often occur when the dose of prednisone is below 5-7.5 mg/day. The speed of glucocorticoid tapering is considered to be the main factor influencing the development of relapses in isolated PMRs. In addition, a genetic component may favor the presence of relapses in isolated PMRs. HLA-DRB1*0401 alleles were associated with an increased risk of relapse. An implication of the IL-6 promoter -174 G/C polymorphism and the GG241 ICAM-1 genotype  was also reported. With regard to serological biomarkers, elevated levels of angiopoietin-2 were associated with an unfavorable course of PMR. Methotrexate and anti-IL6 receptor antibody tocilizumab may be required in PMR patients with multiple relapses.

Predictors of long-term therapy with glucocorticoid in polymyalgia rheumatica

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the response of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and predictive factors which correspond to the long-term GC.

METHODS

We reviewed 93 patients with PMR who were treated with GC for more than 6 months. We compared the clinical findings between patients who achieved remission within 24 months (early-remission group, n = 40) and those who required GC therapy for more than 24 months (long-therapy group, n = 24).

RESULTS

Among 93 patients, 49 have achieved a remission, 35 were undergoing treatment, and 9 have transferred to other hospitals or died. Rate of remission of patients treated for one year GC therapy was in 12% and 53% after 2 years. Serum CRP of long-therapy group was significantly higher than those of the early-remission group. The ratio of patients who experienced more than one relapse within 6 months was 37.5% of long-therapy group and 7.5% of early-remission group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the history of relapse until 6 months was a significant predictor of long therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Some patients need the long-term therapy for more than 4 years. The history of relapse till 6 months is a significant predictor of the long-term GC therapy.

Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory rheumatic disease of the elderly characterised by pain and stiffness in the neck and pelvic girdle, and is the second most common inflammatory rheumatic condition in this age group, after rheumatoid arthritis. Polymyalgia rheumatica can occur independently or in association with giant cell arteritis, which is the most common form of primary vasculitis. The diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica is usually based on clinical presentation and increase of inflammatory markers. There are no pathognomonic findings that can confirm the diagnosis. However, different imaging techniques, especially ultrasonography, can assist in the identification of polymyalgia rheumatica. Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica, but they might be associated with different adverse events. A subgroup of patients presents with a refractory disease course and, in these cases, adding methotrexate as a steroid-sparing agent could be useful. In this review, we summarise the latest findings regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of polymyalgia rheumatica and try to highlight the possible pitfalls, especially in elderly patients.

Treat to Target: A Valid Concept for Management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are common inflammatory diseases of the elderly. They have variable clinical courses and are usually treated with glucocorticoids (GCs). Relapses are frequent in both conditions. Physicians should balance the tradeoff of treatment-related adverse events and risk of relapse. The ultimate goal of treatment is control of the disease while maintaining patient well-being. A treat-to-target approach may achieve the aim of controlling inflammation and preserving patient's functioning and quality of life, and would require pursuit and evaluation of clinical, laboratory, imaging, and structural targets to tackle the different manifestations of GCA and PMR.

Thrombocytosis as a prognostic factor in polymyalgia rheumatica: characteristics determined from cluster analysis

Background:

This study aimed to identify the clinical subgroups of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) using cluster analysis and compare the outcomes among the identified subgroups.

Methods:

We enrolled patients with PMR who were diagnosed at Okayama University Hospital, Japan between 2006 and 2017, met the 2012 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology provisional classification criteria for PMR, and were treated with glucocorticoids. Hierarchical cluster analysis using variables selected by principal component analysis was performed to identify the clusters. Subsequently, the outcomes among the identified clusters were compared in the study. The primary outcome was treatment response at 1 month after commencement of treatment. The secondary outcome was refractory clinical course, which was defined as the requirement of additional treatments or relapse during a 2-year observational period.

Results:

A total of 61 consecutive patients with PMR were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was 71 years, and 67% were female. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three distinct subgroups: cluster 1 (n = 14) was characterized by patients with thrombocytosis (all patients showed a platelet count of >45 × 10⁴/µl), cluster 2 (n = 38), by patients without peripheral arthritis, and cluster 3 (n = 9), by patients with peripheral arthritis. The patients in cluster 1 achieved treatment response less frequently than those in cluster 2 (14% versus 47%, p = 0.030). Refractory cases were more frequent in cluster 1 than in cluster 2; however, no significant difference was noted (71% versus 42%, p = 0.06).

Conclusions:

Thrombocytosis could predict the clinical course in patients with PMR.

Genetic Predispositions of Glucocorticoid Resistance and Therapeutic Outcomes in Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are closely related chronic inflammatory diseases. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are first-choice drugs for PMR and GCA, although some patients show poor responsiveness to the initial GC regimen or experience flares after GC tapering. To date, no valid biomarkers have been found to predict which patients are at most risk for developing GC resistance. In this review, we summarize PMR- and GCA-related gene polymorphisms and we associate these gene variants with GC resistance and therapeutic outcomes. A limited number of GC resistance associated-polymorphisms have been published so far, mostly related to HLA-DRB1*04 allele. Other genes such ICAM-1, TLR4 and 9, VEGF, and INFG may play a role, although discrepancies are often found among different populations. We conclude that more studies are required to identify reliable biomarkers of GC resistance. Such biomarkers could help distinguish non-responders from responders to GC treatment, with concomitant consequences for therapeutic strategy.

Permanent Discontinuation of Glucocorticoids in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Is Uncommon but May Be Enhanced by Amino Bisphosphonates

OBJECTIVE

The duration of treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is often longterm. Amino bisphosphonates (N-BP) are used in PMR for the prevention of GC-induced osteoporosis, but they coulsd also have immunomodulatory properties. Whether they can be effective as an adjuvant treatment in PMR is unknown. We aimed to establish whether the use of N-BP in our PMR cohort may be associated with GC discontinuation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with PMR recorded in our electronic medical notes. Cox regression analyses were used to examine the association between the use of N-BP and discontinuation of GC.

RESULTS

Data were retrieved for 385 patients (mean age 71 ± 10 yrs, 64% females, mean initial prednisone dose 19 ± 9 mg/day). The median followup time was 38 months (range 9-57); more than 60% of patients were exposed to N-BP. GC were discontinued in 47% of patients after a median time of 20 months (range 14-27), but subsequently restarted in 39%. Overall, 276/385 patients (72%) were actively treated at their last available evaluation (mean prednisone dose 4.9 ± 5.5 mg/day), while 123/205 (60%) were still receiving GC after 24 months of followup. The use of N-BP was associated with the discontinuation of GC (adjusted HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.88), independent of age, initial GC dose, and osteoporosis.

CONCLUSION

Unlike current guidelines, longterm treatment with GC is often necessary. These preliminary data suggest that N-BP may be involved in the management of PMR.

Characteristics of Korean Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a Single Locomotive Pain Clinic Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common systemic inflammatory disease of the elderly; however, the clinical characteristics and therapeutic response of PMR in Korea have been rarely studied.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 54 Korean patients diagnosed with PMR between January 2009 and February 2017 in a locomotive pain clinic of one tertiary referral hospital. We analyzed epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, therapeutic responses, and prognostic factors for remission-failure at one-year after oral prednisolone treatment.

RESULTS

In 54 patients with PMR, 32 (59.3%) were female. The average age at diagnosis was 65.0 ± 10.5 years. Duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 8.1 ± 8.6 months. All patients had shoulder pain (54 patients, 100.0%); 49 patients (90.7%) had hip girdle pain, while 19 patients (35.2%) had peripheral joint pain. Four patients (7.4%) were accompanied by the giant cell arteritis (GCA). There was no seasonal preference for symptom development. Only 19 patients were diagnosed with PMR at initial symptom presentation. At one-year follow-up after oral prednisolone treatment, the remission rate was 35.3% (12/34). Multivariate analysis showed that history of relapse (odds ratio, 6.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.035-44.804) was a significant predictor of remission-failure.

CONCLUSION

The rate of remission (35.3%) after oral prednisolone treatment was similar to previous reports in western countries; and GCA is not a rare condition in Korean PMR patients. Misdiagnosis of PMR is common, and heightened consideration for PMR is needed in elderly patients who present inflammatory features of bilateral shoulder pain.

Baseline Shoulder Ultrasonography Is Not a Predictive Marker of Response to Glucocorticoids in Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A 12-month Followup Study

Objective.

In this study, we evaluated whether ultrasound (US) subdeltoid bursitis (SB) and/or biceps tenosynovitis (BT) presence at baseline could represent a predictive marker of response to standard therapy after 12 months of followup, and whether a positive US examination could highlight the need of higher maintenance dosage of glucocorticoids (GC) at 6 and 12 months in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods.

Sixty-six consecutive patients with PMR underwent bilateral shoulder US evaluations before starting therapy and after 12 months of followup. Absence of girdle pain and morning stiffness (clinical remission) and laboratory variables were evaluated. After diagnosis, all patients were treated with prednisone.

Results.

At baseline, SB and/or BT were present in 46 patients (70%), of whom 33 (72%) became negative while 13 (28%) remained positive at the 12-month US evaluation. All patients rapidly achieved a clinical remission, and at 6 months 26 (39%) also achieved a laboratory variable normalization. According to US positivity at baseline, no difference was found in remission or relapse rate after 12 months. Thirty patients (46%) at 6 months and 7 (11%) at 12 months were still taking more than 5 mg/day of prednisone. According to the US pattern at baseline, no difference was found in the mean GC dose at 6 and 12 months.

Conclusion.

In patients with PMR, the presence of SB and/or BT on US at diagnosis is not a predictive marker of GC response or of a higher GC dosage to maintain remission in a 12-month prospective followup study.

2015 recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative

Therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) varies widely in clinical practice as international recommendations for PMR treatment are not currently available. In this paper, we report the 2015 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommendations for the management of PMR. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology as a framework for the project. Accordingly, the direction and strength of the recommendations are based on the quality of evidence, the balance between desirable and undesirable effects, patients' and clinicians' values and preferences, and resource use. Eight overarching principles and nine specific recommendations were developed covering several aspects of PMR, including basic and follow-up investigations of patients under treatment, risk factor assessment, medical access for patients and specialist referral, treatment strategies such as initial glucocorticoid (GC) doses and subsequent tapering regimens, use of intramuscular GCs and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), as well as the roles of non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs and non-pharmacological interventions. These recommendations will inform primary, secondary and tertiary care physicians about an international consensus on the management of PMR. These recommendations should serve to inform clinicians about best practices in the care of patients with PMR.

Predictors of relapse and treatment outcomes in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate characteristics of relapse, relapse rates, treatment and outcomes among patients with biopsy-proven GCA in a large, single-institution cohort.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with biopsy-proven GCA from 1998 to 2013. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and treatment data at presentation and during follow-up were collected. Comparisons by relapse rate were performed using chi-square tests. Prednisone discontinuation by initial oral dose ≤40 and >40 mg/day was compared using Cox models.

RESULTS

The cohort included 286 patients [74% female, mean age at diagnosis 75.0 years (s.d. 7.6), median follow-up 5.1 years). During follow-up, 73 patients did not relapse, 80 patients had one relapse and 133 had two or more relapses. The first relapse occurred during the first year in 50% of patients, by 2 years in 68% and by 5 years in 79%. More patients with established hypertension (P = 0.007) and diabetes (P = 0.039) at GCA diagnosis were in the high relapse rate group ( ≥ 0.5 relapses/year) and more females were in the low or high relapse groups than in the no relapse group (P = 0.034). Patients receiving an initial oral prednisone dose >40 mg/day were able to reach a dose of <5 mg/day [hazard ratio (HR) 1.46 (95% CI 1.09, 1.96)] and discontinue prednisone [HR 1.56 (95% CI 1.09, 2.23)] sooner than patients receiving ≤40 mg/day without an increase in observed glucocorticoid-associated adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Females and patients with hypertension or diabetes at GCA diagnosis have more relapses during follow-up. Patients treated with an initial oral prednisone dose >40 mg/day achieved earlier prednisone discontinuation.

MMP-3 can distinguish isolated PMR from PMR with GCA: A retrospective study regarding PMR and GCA in Japan

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify clinical features at diagnosis that can distinguish isolated polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) without giant cell arteritis (GCA) from PMR with GCA, and clinical features at diagnosis of isolated PMR that can predict subsequent relapse and corticosteroid discontinuation.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 115 patients with isolated PMR and 29 patients with GCA was performed. A comparison between isolated PMR patients, GCA patients (with or without PMR), and PMR with GCA patients was performed. Predictors of relapse and corticosteroid discontinuation were identified using a logistic regression in the patients with isolated PMR.

RESULTS

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) level was significantly different among the patient groups. MMP-3: 230.5 ± 201.5 ng/mL in isolated PMR, 80.5 ± 47.5 ng/mL in GCA (p < 0.01), and 96.8 ± 54.8 ng/mL in PMR with GCA (p = 0.03). In the patients with isolated PMR, female gender (odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-6.41; p < 0.05) and creatinine (Cr) < 50 μmol/L (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.02-5.99; p < 0.05) were significant prognostic factors that predicted relapse.

CONCLUSION

A low level of MMP-3 is an excellent positive predictor for PMR with GCA. Among patients with isolated PMR, female gender and Cr < 50 μmol/L were significant prognostic factors that predicted relapse.

Glucocorticoid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica: pretreatment characteristics and tocilizumab therapy

Treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) is the preferred therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), but some patients show poor responses to the initial GC regimen or experience flares on GC tapering. Alternative therapies for patients with GC resistance have not yet been established. To evaluate pretreatment characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of GC-resistant PMR, we followed all patients who had been diagnosed with PMR between October 2007 and February 2013, according to our standardized protocol. GC-resistant patients were defined as those who had responded poorly to the initial GC regimen (15 mg/day of prednisolone) or those who had responded to the initial regimen but had experienced a flare upon GC tapering to 5 mg/day of the maintenance dose or within the first 6 months of maintenance therapy. Out of 23 patients, nine were found to be GC-resistant cases and the others were GC responders. Baseline values of PMR activity score and its components, especially the ability to elevate the upper limbs (EUL), were significantly higher in GC-resistant patients compared with GC responders. The additional use of methotrexate (MTX, five cases), salazosulfapyridine (one case), and tocilizumab (TCZ, three cases) was effective for GC-resistant patients, although 13 to 39 weeks were required for the achievement of remission. We report the three GC-resistant cases in which TCZ was added to GC therapy with or without MTX. We also review the medical literature on the use of TCZ as of January 31, 2014 and discuss the utility of TCZ in the treatment of GC-resistant PMR.