Melanocortin Gene Expression in Lymphocytes of Polymyalgia Patients

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a systemic inflammatory disorder with unknown etiology and overlapping symptoms with giant cell arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The proteomic profile of PMR patients remains uncharacterized and biomarker studies very limited. The primary aim of this study was to thoroughly investigate the lymphocyte expression of melanocortin receptors, and the serum proteome during glucocorticoid treatment of PMR with a focus on acute-phase reactions, the complement system, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Inclusion Criteria:The PMR diagnosis fulfilled the ACR 1987 criteria [20]. Additional inclusion criteria were elevated CRP, and sedimentation rate, ultrasound verified synovitis [21], and ].Exclusion Criteria:no cancer related findings on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen, and chest X-ray to increase specificity as described by ACR 2012 classification criteria [22