PMR and Atrial Fibrillation

[Hilaryjm]

I had PMR for around 5 years from 2009. I have now had a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). I understand that incidence of AF in people with PMR is higher than the general population. I wasn't warned about this, and the diagnosis has come as a big shock. Has anyone else suffered this too?

[grace1]

Hi sorry to hear you have got this I, to have it I took it about 2years ago ,it,s very scary but I had to get a pacemaker put in last October and it,s the best thing I have got hope you fell better soon xx

[karools16]

Hello Hilaryjm.Don't be too alarmed by the diagnosis. Yes, scary at first, but it's ok. I have GCA, maybe PMR too, was diagnosed AF about 6 yrs ago. Had angiogram and angioplasty, and a procedure...can't remember name.. whereby, under general anaesthestic, they try to make the heart beat at a normal rhythm. It failed. I don't need a pacemaker. I have very high BP, and take tabs for that. Life is fine with AF. Pity other conditions get in the way! Life. Hope all goes well for you.

[jinasc]

Just to let your know that

'atrial fibrillation is the commonest abnormal heart rhythm and it is found in about 1% of the population. It is much more common as we get older. It is rare in young people but found in 5% of those over the age of 65 and 10% of those over 80.'

So you have joined a common club (UK pop current about 63m) As my Practice Nurse says, we can do most things with hearts these days, but A/F grrrrrr.

It is livable with and has not, so far, caused any problems 5 years down the line just keep on taking the tablets.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have a/f. It started soon after the PMR symptoms but I didn't realise what it was - it is paroxysmal, totally irregular and short-lived episodes usually. Eventually I had a drug reaction which caused a long episode and I happened to be in hospital at the time so there was no question.

There is a higher incidence of a/f in most autoimmune inflammatory arthritis patients - but as far as I can gather there aren't figures specifically for PMR yet. I have asked one of the top people in the UK who said it is more common in the age group anyway so they didn't know. That didn't answer the question I asked mind you - which is a/f more common in PMR patients than the general population!

It's perfectly possible you would have gone on to develop a/f anyway - and mine causes me next to no problems as long as I keep taking the pills! I don't live in the UK so the approach here is to use medication as long as possible to minimise the episodes because they find the surgical approaches are generally only of short-lived value and the patient reverts. And the put you on an anticoagulant before you even get out of hospital. I was on a warfarin-like anticoagulant for 4 years until suddenly my INR went haywire, so now I'm on one of the new generation drugs. Two capsules a day, every 12 hours - now the initial bruising has settled down I don't know I have it.

As others have said, it's the least of my problems!

[queenhermione in reply to PMRpro]

This bit if research came out last year:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/340...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to queenhermione]

Thank yo - that's a good one - I was ahead of the curve because i asked Prof Sarah Mackie if there was an increased rate in PMR patients and got the "it's more common in that age group anyway" which didn't answer the question I asked. I shall send it to her!!!

[Hilaryjm]

Thanks all for helpful comments. Someone on the AF forum said their doctor had said that there is a definite association, and that their theory was that the inflammatory nature of PMR causes the damage to the electrical cells in the heart. And now I see there is also a link between PMR and carpal tunnel, which I have also had! I wonder what's next?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hilaryjm]

My cardiologist said much the same - whether it is more common or not I don't know for sure (I think it is but don't have figures to back it up). He is also confident the autoimmune part of the PMR damaged the electrical cells leading to the arrythmia originally. And yes - carpal tunnel is seen quite often alongside PMR.

But then, we aren't getting any younger and believe me - age doesn't come alone!!!!!

[karools16]

Just remmbered, I should have said I was on Warfarin. Don't know why I mentioned the BP pills?????? Brain fog!