Peripheral arterial disease in polymyalgia rheumatica
Author affiliations
Department of Rheumatology, Southend University Hospital, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex SS0 0RY, UK
Citation and License
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:111 doi:10.1186/ar2685
See related research article by Warrington et al., http://arthritis-research.com/content/11/2/R50
Published: 20 May 2009Abstract
Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica have been shown to have an increased risk of peripheral arterial disease on longitudinal follow-up. Possible explanations for this include premature atherosclerosis related to chronic inflammation, as with other inflammatory rheumatological conditions. Alternatively, polymyalgia rheumatica can be associated with vasculitis, even in the absence of clinical giant cell arteritis, and peripheral vascular disease may represent subclinical vasculitis. Further work is required to elucidate the reasons for this increased risk. Currently, it would remain reasonable to aggressively control modifiable atherosclerotic risk factors.
