What steroid sparing disease modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics can be used in Polymyalgia Rheumatica?
In patients with steroid-dependent PMR, MTX (10–20 mg/week) is reported to facilitate tapering of steroids. Azathioprine may also serve as a steroid-sparing agent. In 2016, Lally et al reported tocilizumab to be an effective treatment, highlighting the prominent role for IL-6 in the pathogenesis of PMR with higher remission rates, lower cumulative and shorter duration of GC therapy.
