Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

How to Manage Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica

  |  Issue: January 2017  |  

“We are desperate for steroid-sparing therapies in GCA and PMR,” she said.

Clinicians also shouldn’t forget about the importance of exercise.

ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“We’ve all seen what happens to our patients on high-dose steroids,” she said. “They lose muscle. They gain fat, they are weak, fatigued and tired. So early prescription of an exercise program for strengthening and fall prevention is important for GCA and PMR.”

References

  1. Avina-Zubieta JA, Bhole VM, Amiri N, et al. The risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in giant cell arteritis: A general population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jan;75(1):148–154.
  2. Ball EL, Walsh SR, Tang TY, et al. Role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis. Br J Surg. 2010 Dec;97(12):1765–1771.
  3. Arida A, Kyprianou M, Kanakis M, et al. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography-derived edema of the temporal artery wall in giant cell arteritis: A second meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Mar 8;11:44.

Related Articles

    Updates on Giant Cell Arteritis

    SAN DIEGO—Recent research tells us more about giant cell arteritis (GCA) to help rheumatologists more accurately diagnose and effectively treat patients with this type of vasculitis. On Nov. 6 at the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, three experts explored the latest findings on GCA pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, imaging modalities and growing treatment options. GCA: What’s Really Happening?…

    Atypical Giant Cell Arteritis Case Illustrates Diagnosis, Management Challenges

    Atypical Giant Cell Arteritis Case Illustrates Diagnosis, Management Challenges

    Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis of large- and medium-sized arteries, usually affecting the cranial branches of the aortic arch. It is the most common vasculitis, with the highest risk factor being age. Accurate diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy are of great importance to prevent serious complications, with the most feared being…

    Permanent Vision Loss in Late Giant Cell Arteritis

    Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) or peripheral arthritis may require extra vigilance during treatment because of a suspected link to giant cell arteritis (GCA) and, potentially, permanent vision loss. “Development of giant cell arteritis after treating polymyalgia or peripheral arthritis: a retrospective case-control study,” a March 2018 study published in The Journal of Rheumatology, suggests…