Alternative treatment

[alanbiochem]

There is some evidence that a virus may trigger PMR and in the case of GCA the chickenpox virus is found in artery biopsy.

Therefore I started wth a large dose of antiviral 5 x 0.8g/day for 5 days. After 3 days symptoms much better. Three days after stopping symptoms reappeared. Then started 4 x 0.8g/day for 7days and then 2 x 0.8g/day for two months. All symptoms now disappeared.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have read the paper too. But there are also patients for who there was NO evidence of the virus and many people who DO have the virus but not GCA. It is possible that there are different versions of GCA - as it is likely there are different versions of PMR.

[SheffieldJane]

How interesting Alan. Carry on keeping us updated if you can.

[Anna135]

Which antiviral are you taking?

[Judy211]

I too read the paper and mentioned it to my rheumy who clearly had not...and knew nothing about it! Hopefully, it will trigger further research. Were you taking any Pred in conjunction? And which anti viral? And how did you manage to persuade your doctor to prescribe it or was she/he progressive enough to offer it? Very interesting.

[Gaz227]

This is very interesting but surely if the treatment was so successful the rheumatologist's would be at least testing it on people by now as it would be a no brainier with the time periods they currently have to keep seeing patients for . We live in hope .

[Megams]

~Thank you for this interesting information alanbiochem.

Where can this evidence be found please?

Most interesting to also read PMRpro's response as wasn't aware there are different versions of PMR.

Blessings one and all ~

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Megams]

Type in virus and GCA in browser - should bring it up. Study by Gilden & Nagel I guess is what is being referred to.

[Lochy]

Can anyone provide a link to the paper please? I too would be interested to know how you got the anti virals prescribed. anytime I have tried to discuss this with my GP and Rheumatologist they did not support trying it at all!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Lochy]

Hi Lochy, see answer to Megams

[Lochy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks!

[Nap1]

Just read lots of info. Regarding this subject but it all dates back to 2015. Am surprised it hasn't come up in the last few years on this forum especially since so many of us have been on steroids for so long. I would like to know if there is any further information or studies since 2015. On a personal level I have had shingles twice once in the eyes as a teenager and once on my back. With the second bout there was anti-viral meds available and it was not too bad. One year after developing GCA I also developed vaginal herpes, which was helped with antiviral meds as well but not a pleasant situation. Can anyone relate to this or does anyone have any further information regarding GCA and antiviral meds? Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Nap1]

It has been discussed and I thought it was on here (although it may have been on the patient.info forum).

It is a single paper and hasn't yet been replicated to my knowledge.

[Tonylynn]

What about Epstein-Barr (Glandular fever) virus. Would be interesting to know how many PMR and GCA cases have had glandular fever.

[HeronNS in reply to Tonylynn]

Is that what we call mononucleosis? I had it when I was 19. Never had chickenpox as far as I know.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tonylynn]

No Epstein-Barr for me - all these theories have been examined and none confirmed as single causes. It is a cumulation of all sorts of factors. There is no single identifiable cause.

[Hidden]

Chicken pox as a child....shingles and epstein barr as adult...

[CT-5012 in reply to Hidden]

Chicken pox as a child, shingles one year after PMR started. Interesting theory,thanks for the information.