Perspectives and unmet needs in polymyalgia rheumatica. Providing the fundamental framework for the development of new treatment regimes in polymyalgia rheumatica

Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica is effectively treated with glucocorticoids. However, glucocorticoid treatment can cause numerous and potentially serious side effects. Therefore, lowest effective dose and shortest duration to control disease is aimed for and glucocorticoid-sparing treatments are needed. Nevertheless, development of treatment regimens in PMR has been hampered by the lack of reliable classification criteria and evidence-based outcome measures. In this editorial, we discuss the need for valid classification criteria in PMR, the strengths and limitations of the ACR/EULAR 2012 provisional classification criteria for PMR and the need of validation and possible refining of the criteria.

Keywords

• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Classification
• Diagnosis.