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PMR and Vascular disease

Posted , 5 users are following.

maria49950
maria49950

I was diagnosed with PMR 4 months ago and pain controlled reasonably on Predisone.  I started have aching calves when walking and after seeing my GP went for a Doppler ultrasound which confirmed extensive hardening of the peripheral arteries with one in the calf being totally blocked.  Seeing a vascular surgeon in 2 weeks time with possibility of operation looming soon.  Is there a

link between PMR and peripheral arterial disease?  has anyone else experienced this.  Now Benin prescribed cholesterol meds which I have heard can cause muscle pain..... Really don't need that😱

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH maria49950

    Posted

    There is an increased risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) if you have a history of PMR - possibly due to unmanaged inflammation in the blood vessels leading to damage to the lining of the arteries that leads to them narrowing but it is also possible that the PMR is a manifestation of the same vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels) that is causing the PVD. They know it happens - they are not entirely sure why. In most patients I think it remains there but not causing severe symptoms, a few develop claudication as you have. All the best for your surgeon appointment.
    • maria49950
      maria49950 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen, makes sense as my CRP test was extremely high .... Over 120 and who knows how long It had been like that before I got started on  Predisone. I just thought the calf pain was due to the PMR but the Doppler ultrasound proved otherwise.  I suppose that's the nature of having PMR, every ache or pain is blamed on it.

    • EileenH
      EileenH maria49950

      Posted

      A CRP that high would be taken as a sign of GCA by many experts. GCA doesn't have to affect vision - it can appear in any artery in the body, especially the aorta so if I were you I would ask for some scanning to be sure it is OK - sometimes it will cause an aortic aneurysm. It's a bit late for a PET-MRI which would have shown if there was inflammation in arteries all over the body because once you are on pred the emissions they measure are very damped down.

    • jean39702
      jean39702 EileenH

      Posted

      Another gem for me to glob on to Eileen.  When I was first diagnosed my CSR was 169.9.  You may recall I was started at 20 mg with no noticeable result; began 25 mg a week later and had a total meltdown 2 days later (CRP of 48.3). Then they handed me 40 mg and it was a miraculous recovery within 12 hours. 

      I didn't connect with you and all the other knowledgeable folks until several weeks later. When we first started dialoguing you questioned why I was started at such a high dose. We traded a few messages and in the end concluded there was likely GCA in the mix without temporal involvement . I don't think the high CRP was every mentioned as a consideration of that fact.

      New observations and conclusions being reached every day. A good thing. At least people are observing and learning. 😁

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