GCA

[Strelitzia]

I understand that PMR can return, but what about GCA? If you started with both and the PMR returns, does the GCA automatically return too? Thank you for any insights. I am so grateful for this forum, I can’t think why rheumatologists don’t automatically inform their patients of its existence!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The PMR doesn't really "return" - it can be part of the GCA symptoms but is then controlled by the GCA doses. When you get to a low dose it may reappear, but it was always there in the background. Same applies to GCA - if the underlying autoimmune disorder is still active and you go to too low a dose of pred to manage the inflammation, the symptoms will reappear. It can happen at any time if you are reducing the dose of pred. especially if it is too fast or in too big steps.

[Strelitzia in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you…the voice of reason, when my rheumatologist is hurrying me to zero milligrams because I’m on Actemra.