Even though polymyalgia rheumatica is not perceived by many physicians as a severe diagnosis, its diagnosis and management actually propose significant challenges. I'd like to talk about those challenges, and what directions our path forward can include to advance our understanding and improve the treatment of patients who have PMR.

Over the past year we have implemented a fast track clinic for PMR at our institution in Dublin. Patients are referred predominantly from primary care, and we aim to see patients within a one to two week window. Without a doubt, patient outcomes are far superior with the instigation of the fast track clinic as part of our service.

Despite the official recognition of PMR as a distinct disease more than 60 years ago, patients with PMR are still largely treated with steroids (glucocorticoids, mostly prednisone). The persistent broad use of glucocorticoids in PMR is related to their quick initial efficacy in the majority of patients with PMR, their low price and the lack of alternative treatments and paucity of glucocorticoid-sparing treatments.