Polymyalgia rheumatica disease – symptoms, causes, diagnosis & stem cell therapy

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) mainly affects people over 50 years old. It causes pain and stiffness in areas like the shoulders, hips, and neck. Women and those from Scandinavian or Northern European backgrounds are more likely to get it. We don’t know the exact cause, but genetics may have a part. Also, studies on environmental and infectious causes haven’t given clear results yet.

People with PMR often have pain in both shoulders, hips, and other areas. They feel stiff for over an hour in the morning and find daily tasks hard to do. They might also lose weight, have low fevers, feel tired a lot, and be sad.

Doctors diagnose PMR by looking at the patient’s history and doing physical exams. They also check for markers of inflammation in the blood, like Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). High levels of these markers can help tell PMR apart from other illnesses.

For treatment, doctors usually prescribe oral corticosteroids like prednisone. These drugs help with the pain and stiffness. People might need to take them for a while, but the doses can be lowered over time. If PMR is very bad or mixed with another condition like giant cell arteritis, other drugs like Methotrexate or Tocilizumab might be used.

Some studies are looking into using stem cell therapy to treat PMR. But we still need more research to understand if this could be a good and safe treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition that mainly targets older adults.
• It’s more common in women and those from Scandinavian or Northern European backgrounds.
• Diagnosis involves checking the patient’s history, examining them, and doing blood tests.
• A high Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood often points to PMR.
• Treating PMR often starts with using oral corticosteroids, like prednisone.

Risk Factors and Symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) mainly affects those over 50, peaking around 70 to 80. It’s more common in older people.

More women get PMR than men, about 2-3 to 1. The reason for this gender difference is still a mystery.

PMR is also more common in people from Scandinavian and Northern European backgrounds. This suggests that where your family is from can affect your risk of PMR.

Genes are also linked to PMR. Some people with a certain gene marker, HLA-DR4, are more likely to get PMR. High IL-6 levels, signaling inflammation, are also common in those with PMR.

The standout signs of PMR are pain and stiffness in your shoulders, hips, neck, and back. Waking up stiff for over an hour is a key sign. Other signs include getting tired easily, losing weight, slight fevers, and feeling down.

Spotting early signs and knowing the risks for Polymyalgia Rheumatica is really important. Getting diagnosed early can make treatments more successful. It also helps those with PMR live better lives.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Diagnosing PMR involves looking at history, symptoms, and doing tests. Doctors check blood for things like ESR and CRP to see if there’s inflammation. High levels could mean the patient has PMR.

MRIs can show joint inflammation but are not used to diagnose PMR. They help check if it’s not another condition or see how bad it is.

PMR is treated with corticosteroids, with prednisone often prescribed. They quickly reduce symptoms for most patients. But, because PMR can come back, some need these drugs for a long time.

Long-term use of corticosteroids from 6 months to 2 years might be needed. It’s important to slowly reduce the drug’s amount to avoid getting sick again and to lessen side effects.

In severe PMR cases, or if there’s giant cell arteritis too, more corticosteroids might be needed. Doctors might also use Methotrexate or Tocilizumab with corticosteroids to better control the disease without increasing corticosteroid use.

NSAIDs can help with pain but don’t treat the main cause. Physical therapy can help by keeping the body moving well and easing stiffness.

Conclusion

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is a disease that causes inflammation. It usually affects people over 50. We don’t know the exact cause. Some think it might be because of genetics. But we also look at the environment and infections as possible causes.

Diagnosing PMR looks at a patient’s past, risks, symptoms, and blood tests. Doctors also do a physical exam.

The main treatment for PMR is using oral steroids like prednisone. They help with pain and discomfort. But, people might need to take them for a long time to stop PMR from coming back. For worse cases or if there’s giant cell arteritis, other drugs and treatments are available. Stem cell therapy is a possible future treatment, but more studies are needed to know if it works well and is safe.

PMR can be tough because it causes a lot of pain and stiffness, especially in older adults. Finding it early and getting the right treatment can make life better for those with PMR. Research is always ongoing. New discoveries will help make treating PMR even better in the future.