The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR):
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).
- Aortic aneurysm (bulging of the aorta) – occurs in 20-30% of cases during the course of the disease.
- Atherosclerosis (synonyms: Arteriosclerosis; Arteriosclerosis.
- Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK) – progressive narrowing or occlusion of the arteries supplying the arms/ (more commonly) legs, usually due to atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Osteoporosis (bone loss) due to glucocorticoid therapy.
- Recurrences (recurrence of symptoms) in about 30% of cases.
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Abnormal weight gain due to glucocorticoid therapy.
- Edema (water retention) due toglucocorticoid therapy.
Often polymyalgia rheumatica heals after a few years.
