PMR

[Evyb]

What is this PMR I am reading about ?

[Constance13]

I don’t recognise the name but, are you joking?

As you are on the PMR/GCA forum I suppose you are!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I see you’ve wandered across from Thyroid forum - not exciting enough for you there😏- so you thought you’d find out about PMR. Well here’s a brief “official” outline of the disease - but rest assured you don’t want to know it personally !

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder typically seen in older adults that causes widespread aching, stiffness and flu-like symptoms. It is more common in women than men, and is seen more often in Caucasians than any other race. The average age of onset is 70 years, and it is rarely seen in people younger than 50. PMR is a self-limiting condition, lasting from one to five years; however, it varies from person to person. Approximately 15 percent of people with PMR develop a potentially dangerous condition called giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis).

The cause of PMR is uncertain but it is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the connective tissues. Genetic and environmental factors (such as infections) are thought to play important roles. Because it is rare in people under age 50, its cause could be linked to the aging process.

You want to know this one even less -

GCA is classified as a large-vessel vasculitis but typically also involves medium and small arteries, particularly the superficial temporal arteries—hence the term temporal arteritis. In addition, GCA most commonly affects the ophthalmic, occipital, vertebral, posterior ciliary, and proximal vertebral arteries. Medium- and large-sized vessels that may be involved include the aorta and the carotid, subclavian, and iliac artery.