About Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that is frequently linked to giant cell arteritis (GCA) (link). PMR occurs in about 50 % of patients who have GCA, while approximately 15% of patients with PMR develop GCA. There may be a common genetic component between the two disorders. PMR is almost exclusively a disease that affects older adults and is rarely diagnosed in people under the age of 50 years. 

Helpful Sites for Vasculitis Patients

The following sites are a good source of detailed information for patients living with vasculitis:

E Medicine from WebMD  is a database of  continually updated medical articles from over 10,000 contributing authors.

Orphanet is a database of information on rare diseases and orphan drugs for all publics. Its aim is to contribute to the improvement of the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients with rare diseases.  Orphanet includes a Professional Encyclopaedia, which is expert-authored and peer-reviewed, a Patient Encyclopaedia and a Directory of expert Services. This Directory includes information on relevant clinics, clinical laboratories, research activities and patient organizations.

Research Studies for Patients with Vasculitis

ClinicalTrials.gov offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments.

Vasculitis Centers and Medical Institutions

The Vasculitis Foundation encourages patients to seek out the best medical care available. Because vasculitis is a rare disease, many physicians are not experienced in treating the disease. Some medical institutions have dedicated "vasculitis centers" focused on treating vasculitis and performing research on vasculitis.