PMR risk

[Kingstontown1]

How much risk is there of getting anything from anyone if someone has PMR and not on any medication? Also if you caught anything would you have a flare up or get whatever you’ve caught,or both ,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are on no medication at all then you are probably in no different situation to without PMR. If you are on no medication for PMR then you ARE running the risks associated with an increased level of inflammation in your body which, in the long term increase the risks of developing cardiovascular disorders or even certain cancers. But you don't catch them.

[Kingstontown1 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you xx

[agingfeminist in reply to PMRpro]

I think this a little misleading. No increased risk of cancer has been found for people with PMR.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to agingfeminist]

That cohort will have been PMR patients who were treated with steroids - and so the inflammation was reduced significantly. However, there is plenty of evidence for increased risk of mortality associated with inflammation in the general population:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

journals.plos.org/plosone/a...

Inflammation leading to raised CRP is inflammation - whatever the cause.

[alangg in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting. So I suppose that having reduced to pred zero but still feeling some pain and stiffness, I should have a CRP test to check if any residual inflammation is there which could cause more ill health in the long term? I haven't seen or heard from a GP for over 6 months now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alangg]

Sometimes the stiffness at first is just recovery or due to less than optimal adrenal function. One lady who has had PMR twice said that it took up to a year for her to feel back to normal. But a peek at the CRP/ESR levels every so often is a good move if they mean anything for you - don't for me.

[agingfeminist in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for this. You are saying untreated PMR is going to be associated with a higher incidence of cancer. Maybe we should all stay on a couple of mgms of pred for life and reduce overall inflammation...and cancer risk.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to agingfeminist]

Could be, not is, not been studied and finding enough people not treated with pred would probably not be easy. Prof Dasgupta told us recently he does leave patients at 2-3mg long term as it reduces the risk of relapses. If I ever get anywhere near I shan't be forcing a reduction to zero!!