Predictors of long-term therapy with glucocorticoid in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objectives: To investigate the response of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and predictive factors which correspond to the long-term GC.

Methods: We reviewed 93 patients with PMR who were treated with GC for more than 6 months. We compared the clinical findings between patients who achieved remission within 24 months (early-remission group,  = 40) and those who required GC therapy for more than 24 months (long-therapy group,  = 24).

Results: Among 93 patients, 49 have achieved a remission, 35 were undergoing treatment, and 9 have transferred to other hospitals or died. Rate of remission of patients treated for one year GC therapy was in 12% and 53% after 2 years. Serum CRP of long-therapy group was significantly higher than those of the early-remission group. The ratio of patients who experienced more than one relapse within 6 months was 37.5% of long-therapy group and 7.5% of early-remission group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the history of relapse until 6 months was a significant predictor of long therapy.

Conclusions: Some patients need the long-term therapy for more than 4 years. The history of relapse till 6 months is a significant predictor of the long-term GC therapy.