ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 766

Predictors of Long-term Therapy with Glucocorticoid in Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Akiko Aoki1, Hiroshi Kobayashi 1 and Hiroshi Oka 1, 1Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting: 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting

Keywords: polymyalgia rheumatica, steroids and remission, treatment

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 10, 2019

Title: Vasculitis – Non-ANCA-Associated & Related Disorders Poster I: Takayasu's Arteritis & Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Session Type: Poster Session (Sunday)

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Clinical symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are improved by low-dose glucocorticoids (GC), but relapses and long-term GC therapy are common. 2015 EULAR/ACR recommendations suggest early introduction of methotrexate (MTX) in addition to GC, particularly in patients at a high risk for relapse and/or prolonged therapy. However, risk factors for prolonged therapy are not clear yet. We investigated predictive factors which corresponded to the long-term GC therapy.

Methods: This was a retrospective study in a single general hospital in Japan. We reviewed the medical records of 96 Japanese patients with PMR between April 2011 and May 2019. Diagnosis of PMR was based on Bird’s criteria or 2012 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria. All patients were treated with prednisolone (PSL) according to the BSR and BHPR guidelines. Patients treated with MTX and accompanied by the giant cell arteritis were excluded from this study. Relapse was defined as the reappearance of symptoms associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients receiving GC. Remission was defined as the absence of clinical symptoms and normal CRP with discontinuation of GC. We compared the clinical findings, laboratory data at baseline and clinical course between those who achieved remission within 2 years (early-remission group; n=38) and those who required GC therapy for more than 2 years (long-therapy group; n=16). Comparisons between groups was made using Student’s t-test and chi-square test (IBM SSPE statistics version 25).

Results: 54/96 (56%) were women. The mean age at diagnosis was 75 (SD 16.0). As of May 2019, 46 patients have achieved a remission, 32 were undergoing treatment, and 18 have transferred to other hospitals or died (Table 1). The median duration of GC therapy of patients who have achieved remission was 18.5 months. Remission was achieved in 16% (11/69) after one-year GC therapy, and 70% (38/54) after two-year GC therapy. There were no differences in sex, age, and or clinical features at diagnosis. Body-mass index and lymphocyte% were lower, and CRP was significantly higher in the long-therapy group (Table 2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that history of relapse till 6 months was a significant predictor of long-term GC therapy (odds ratio, 9.07; 95%CI 1.949-42.248).

Conclusion: According to GCs therapy guidelines, the remission rate in our hospital is not low. However, some patients need the long-term therapy for more than 2 years. We might consider additional MTX therapy in patients who experience a relapse during the first six months.


Table1_2019AOKI

Table 1 Summary of patients with diagnosis with PMR

Table 2 Clinical findings in patients of 2 groups


Disclosure: A. Aoki, None; H. Kobayashi, None; H. Oka, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Aoki A, Kobayashi H, Oka H. Predictors of Long-term Therapy with Glucocorticoid in Polymyalgia Rheumatica [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019; 71 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/predictors-of-long-term-therapy-with-glucocorticoid-in-polymyalgia-rheumatica/. Accessed .
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

« Back to 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/predictors-of-long-term-therapy-with-glucocorticoid-in-polymyalgia-rheumatica/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology