Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR): management
Evidence-based neurology checklist on polymyalgia rheumatica (pmr): management: Steroid treatment Prednisolone 15-25mg daily starting dose for 3 weeks Taper the dose down to 10mg daily over 4-8 weeks Reduce the dose by 1mg every 4 weeks if remission is achieved In case of relapse, increase the…
Steroid treatment
- Prednisolone 15-25mg daily starting dose for 3 weeks
- Taper the dose down to 10mg daily over 4-8 weeks
- Reduce the dose by 1mg every 4 weeks if remission is achieved
- In case of relapse, increase the dose back to the pre-relapse dose
Bone protection
Indications for specialist referral: clinal factors
Indications for specialist referral: steroid-related factors
Screen for steroid-risk co-morbidities
Precautions
Risk factors for relapse
References
- Dasgupta B, Borg FA, Hassan N, et al. BSR and BHPR guidelines for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica. Rheumatology 2010; 49:186-190.
- Helliwell T, Hider SL, Barraclough K, Dasgupta B, Mallen CD. Diagnosis and management of polymyalgia rheumatica. Br J Gen Pract 2012; 62:275-276.
- Mackie SL, Mallen CD. Polymyalgia rheumatica. BMJ 2013; 347:f6937.
- Ughi N, Sebastiani GD, Gerli R, et al. The Italian Society of Rheumatology clinical practice guidelines for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica. Reumatismo 2020; 72:1-15.
