Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Subclinical giant cell arteritis increases the risk of relapse in polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors' conclusion
Patients with PMR and subclinical GCA had a significantly higher number of relapses during a 2-year follow-up than patients with isolated PMR.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) fulfilling 2012 EULAR/ACR provisional classification criteria, without giant cell arteritis (GCA) symptoms, routinely followed up for 2 yearsmedian follow-up 22 (20–24) months
- Participants
- 150 patients
- Exposure
- PMR with subclinical GCA vs isolated PMR
- Subclinical GCAn = 50
- Outcome
- Relapses
- Follow-up
- 2 years
Methodological detailsultrasound-stratified, 2-year routine follow-up
- Ultrasound-stratified
- 2-year routine follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relapse · 2-year follow-up
P < 0.001
- Overall relapse
- 47 (31.3 %)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prednisone starting dose, relapsed vs non-relapsed (subclinical GCA subgroup)
P = 0.722
Prednisone dose at month 3, relapsed vs non-relapsed (subclinical GCA subgroup) · 3rd month
P < 0.001
- Prednisone dose at month 3, relapsed vs non-relapsed (subclinical GCA subgroup): faster tapering in first 3 months in relapsed
Age, sex, CRP and ESR, relapsed vs non-relapsed (subclinical GCA subgroup)
- No differences
Original publication
Subclinical giant cell arteritis increases the risk of relapse in polymyalgia rheumatica. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 15 February 2024. doi:10.
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