Causes of GCA

[christi48]

What causes GCA and why is it related to PMR? How does Prednisone work for GCA? I would like to hear from people who have developed this condition.

[SnazzyD]

Hello and welcome. Do have a read of this from the FAQ’s and then see if you have any questions. This is just one link from the GCA section and can be found on the right of the screen “NEW FAQ’s 2022”. Any questions just shout 🙂

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good question, unfortunately no simple answer…. Genetics, environment, stress - and an immune system that goes haywire…

Few links to look at - based on personal experience, one on connection between diseases

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

… and some personal experiences from our FAQs section -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

And the charity’s webpage - pmrgca.org.uk/information-a...

[Sharitone]

My GCA/LVV was daignosed 1 year after PMR. But the fatigue had been creeping up on me for months, and I had never managed to get below the original 15mg, with trips to 20 and 25 mg in between. So I personally think that in my case the whole lot was present there from the outset; it just took longer for the vascular symptoms to cook up. I hope you weren't looking for a scientific view! But my theory would fit with the idea that they are both variations on the same spectrum. I think that anyone who cannot reduce the pred after a few months should have proper imaging just in case.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If we could tell you that I suspect we'd be very popular people amongst doctors!! Np-one really knows what send the immune system haywire, just that for some reason it is unable to recognise body tissues as self and starts to attack them, causing inflammation. Pred is one of the most powerful antiinflammatory medications available.

Thisi s a good analysis, if a bit heavy going - the pictures are easy to understand though:

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...