An example of an autoimmune disease that tends to affect the elderly is polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Typically presenting as pain or stiffness in the neck, shoulders and hips, the pain from PMR can be either very sudden or occur gradually over a period. Most PMR sufferers experience pain in the morning when they first wake up, though this is not necessarily true for all patients.
While the causes of PMR are not yet fully understood, we can identify the source of the symptoms as being the result of white blood cells in the body attacking the muscles, causing inflammation, pain and stiffness. If left untreated, PMR may sometimes cause temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the temples that may cause blindness if not quickly brought under control. For this reason it is extremely important that patients with PMR correctly manage their condition, typically through the prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and prednisolone, an immunosuppressive corticosteroid. Some patients need other medicines to help control the immune system so that they do not need to rely on too much prednisolone.
Another common autoimmune disease that affects the elderly in particular is dermatomyositis, a connective-tissue disease that affects the muscles and skin. While it may manifest as a result of the patient having an underlying cancer, dermatomyositis may also be the result of an autoimmune disorder. Patients often experience significant weakness in their arms and legs, so much so that it can be difficult for them to even raise their arms above their heads or climb up the stairs without support. The development of lesions, scaly eruptions and red patches over the joints is another characteristic of dermatomyositis, as is the appearance of periodic rashes and calcium deposits under the skin.
Thankfully, like PMR, dermatomyositis can be kept under control relatively well through the use of immunosuppressive drugs. However, treatment should begin as soon as possible, so as to minimise the amount of damage that the disease causes.
