Remission from GCA

[prunus]

On Monday I should have been keeping my appointment with the Rheumatologist. One of the questions I had in mind to ask is how long remission is likely to continue for. Are there any statistics available as to the odds?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I doubt it, but one would hope forever!

I think it’s less likely to reoccur than PMR for some reason - nothing concrete to prove it, but it’s not something you hear much about.

People sometimes “get” GCA after PMR has gone into revision, and visa versa but I doubt there are any records to show how many.

You could do a straw poll on here, but not many of us hang around to annoy everyone once it’s gone.

Me - 3 and 1/2 years, jinasc a lot longer, a few more either side of my timescale .

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for that. I suppose in another way it's similar to the fact that no-one really knows why we get it in the first place. The reason I "hang around" here is because I've learnt so much from this site.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to DorsetLady]

We dont mind you hanging around with all your advice. If you become a pest we can always restrict you🤣

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not that I know of. The medical literature says that it is rare to get either PMR or GCA more than once and certainly in all the years I have been on the forums and have met hundreds, if not thousands, of patients, I have met less than half a dozen who have had PMR twice, a couple who have had PMR and then developed GCA a few years later and a couple with the reverse, GCA followed by PMR.

[jinasc]

Me, started Feb 2007 remission 5 years last dose of pred (1mg) on 31st December 2012 hope it stays in remission ..........

I do know one person (PMRpro has met him as well in Surrey) and both PMR & GCA returned after 2 years. He now knows he is on pred for the rest of his life, however he did have other medical problems, him and I and his medics think they have contributed.

To save your sight, you are ever watchful.

[prunus in reply to jinasc]

You certainly are.