Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition of unknown cause characterized by severe bilateral pain and morning stiffness of the shoulder, neck and pelvic girdle.
PMR is the second-most common rheumatic disease after RA in Northern Europe and North America with incidence rates of 50-68/100,000. PMR shares many common features with giant cell arteritis (GCA), and 40-50% of patients with GCA have associated PMR. Around 30% of those with PMR go on to develop GCA.
Firstline treatment in PMR and GCA is glucocorticoids
In PMR the treatment approach is to give oral glucocorticoids (GC) treatment, which in most patients induces disease control after some weeks. To reduce the risk for GC induced side effects the current treatment recommendation in EULAR/ACR guidelines is to tamper GCs over a few weeks. GC discontinuation is associated with risk for relapses.
Consequently, early intervention with resomelagon could be a treatment option to reduce the use of GC and reduce the risk for relapses following achievement of disease control.