Updated Clinical Approaches for Managing Hard-to-Treat Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis

Systemic corticosteroids (CS) are the primary treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), but relapses and side effects are common.

• Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are systemic inflammatory diseases primarily affecting adults over 50.
• Diagnosing PMR/GCA can be challenging due to variable clinical presentations.
• Large-vessel imaging techniques are increasingly recognized for their role in confirming GCA diagnoses.
• Certain biologic agents, particularly those targeting interleukin-6 (IL-6), have shown efficacy in treating GCA.

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