There is very new data from the American College of Rheumatology meeting, at minute 49.28 the discussion, "Rheumatology Round-Up with Dr. Jack Cush & Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh", a placebo controlled trial for PMR that showed no benefit whatsoever of methotrexate @25mg a week.
It was big news on X last week with former believers, rheumatologists, changing their minds.
Here is the abstract: acrabstracts.org/abstract/r...
Let your doctor know about this new data on methotrexate.
Thank you! Wonderful result. I have read about the St. Maartens Clinic before, and there are some very keen researchers there.
They have also conducted a study in which they had some very good results with treating new diagnosed PMR patients with Tocilizumab.
Oh it does, works a treat, and for patients who've had PMR for years on pred. But it doesn't help in the UK!!!!
Well, the Dutch medical authorities are not enthousiastic about introducing Tocilizumab for PMR either. Too expensive. Too many potential patients in an aging population.
You are left to ask what about people who develop osteoporosis or diabetes as a result of pred - they are likely to cost the system an awful lot more in the long run. My gripe in the UK is that it is available without limit for inflammatory arthritis - lots of cases there too and it manifests at much younger ages so potentially required for much longer.
The patent is up, biosimilars are on the way. According to my rheumy, the price of Humira for RA has fallen in the last few years from similar to TCZ to about 800 euros a year. At that price any healthcare system should pay - but I would pay that myself without a second thought as it has made such a difference to me.
Wow! That is really interesting and, as the speakers say, potentially impactful. The trial could be larger and cover a longer period of PMR but it is persuasive. Separately, the video includes a lengthy discussion on the potential impact of long term steroids on patients, with findings suggesting that mortality rates are a bit higher than previously thought.
As has been said on another thread, it's surprising that so many people are off Pred and in remission after only a year. I'm coming up for three years now and the disease is definitely not waning; a friend of mine has had PMR for far longer.
What happens to the people who can't taper down so quickly?
I read through thisvdata, much over my head, doubt my rheumy be open to read, but how do we decipher and get to bottom line with regard to methotrexate, ? Is itvhelpful for different types of arthritis at all? As I have posted , just started have had 2 injections, week apart , 15 mgs and 17.5 mgs, prescribed by rheumy, for the all over chronic pain I have everyday, from what he originally diagnosed as osteoarthritis, recently ( says no longer have pmr, after 8 yrs and markers arent raised, also said did test last tear for RA, showed negative( at whuch time was not in this kind of pain) , also mention possibly fibromyalgia?? Without checking tenderpoints, and his biggest concern is getting off prednisine, been at 4 mgs since April! So I am now concerned of course, seeing your post, just how effective and safe will methtrexate be for all this pain Im having, as diagnosis is so varied?
Thank you. I just stopped 25 mg 3 days ago to evaluate if I have any bennefit or just the suttle side effect of being immunodepressed. I am stil on 11,25 mg pred. I guess my rheumy had seen this, and any way I tend to agree, but some times I did fell better in the days after dosing
Newly Launched Clinical Trial PMR
Methotrexate sensitivity 
First day of Methotrexate 15mg 
PMR/unspecified arthritis /methotrexate 
Methotrexate
