GCA, varicella zoster and PMR?

[papadapadoo]

I found the referenced paper (provenance unclear) fascinating. Does anyone know of the use of acyclovir to treat GCA or PMR? I couldn't find anything in the search tool. I know there is speculation about a virus as the cause of these related diseases, but I didn't think a virus had been identified. This is somewhat speculative, but there is a case study.

oatext.com/pdf/CMR-2-115.pdf

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is another study from some time ago - I assume the one mentioned - that found v zoster in temporal artery biopsies and postulated it was what cause GCA, However, the likelihood of finding v zoster in patients with GCA is pretty high - the vast majority of us have had chicken pox as children. And the study did have flaws.

I find the paper rather curious - I'm rather horrified that they thought it was acceptable to keep a patient with a high index of suspicion for GCA on such a low dose of pred and a totally unproven concept. I wonder what the ethical committee would have said if asked!!!

Neither am I impressed by the inability to get the name of the disorder correct: artritis should be arteritis. I smell a rat - the "journal" is open access - anyone could write anything one suspects.

[papadapadoo in reply to PMRpro]

There are a few other oddities in the article, though OAT is generally trustworthy, as far as I have read. What interests me is not the cause of PMR/GCA, but rather the possibility of alternate therapies. In 2004, when I was languishing in Mass General with no diagnosis to explain a growing inflammation in my brain stem, one of the therapies tried was acyclovir, and I remember it being explained as an anti-viral "shotgun." In fact, there are many kinds of herpes. Unfortunately, if acyclovir were actually a viable treatment for PMR we'd know a lot more about it. (It didn't cure me, either.) So we beat on, boats against the current ....

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This seems to disagree, and from a more reliable source -

jrheum.org/content/early/20...

[YogaJM]

Very interesting as I have been on acyclovir for some years at a low dose. First time I've heard of a possible association with PMR & GCA.

[2013mayo]

I’m convinced my GCA was something to do with the fact I kept getting eye shingles.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 2013mayo]

It will certainly have messed up the immune system!