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Polymyalgia rheumatica
Medical condition

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease causing pain and stiffness mainly in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and hips, typically affecting people over 50. Symptoms are worst in the morning but can last all day. PMR may be associated with temporal arteritis, which involves blood vessel inflammation and can cause blindness if untreated. The cause is unclear, though people of Northern European descent are at higher risk. Diagnosis involves non-specific inflammation markers like C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Treatment mainly includes oral corticosteroids for 2–3 years, supplemented by self-care such as eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. PMR was first described in 1966 at Mount Sinai Hospital.

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Signs and symptoms

A wide range of symptoms can indicate if a person has polymyalgia rheumatica. The classic symptoms include:1213

  • Pain and stiffness (moderate to severe) in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, thighs, and hips, which inhibits activity, especially in the morning, but which usually persists to some degree throughout the day. Pain can also occur in the groin area and in the buttocks. The pain can be limited to one of these areas as well. It is a disease of the "girdles" meaning shoulder girdle or pelvic girdle.
  • Fatigue and lack of appetite (possibly leading to weight loss)
  • Anemia
  • An overall feeling of illness or flu-like symptoms.
  • Low-grade (mild) fever14 or abnormal temperature is sometimes present.
  • Generalized weakness
    • Note that this is generalized weakness, not muscle weakness. The presence of muscle weakness likely indicates a different diagnosis.16
  • Inflammatory swelling and pain of wrists and/or knees (only ~25% of cases)
  • Pitting edema (non-inflammatory swelling) of wrists, ankles, hands, and feet (only ~10% of cases)

Temporal arteritis

About 20% of people who are diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica also have temporal arteritis (also called giant cell arteritis), and about 50% of people with temporal arteritis have polymyalgia rheumatica.17 Some symptoms of temporal arteritis include headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw or facial soreness, distorted vision, or aching in the limbs caused by decreased blood flow, and fatigue.18

Causes

The pathophysiology of polymyalgia rheumatica is not well-understood. Evidence shows that there is likely a combined genetic and environmental pathophysiology behind the disease, but concrete identification of the causes, including whether or not polymyalgia rheumatica is an autoimmune disease, remains elusive.19 It is, at the very least, an immune-mediated disease, with both innate and adaptive immune system elements being known to play a role.2021 Infectious diseases have historically been hypothesized as a likely trigger for disease in genetically susceptible people. Individual studies have sometimes found correlations between specific pathogens and development of the disease, but broader analysis fails to find significant correlations. Proposed causative pathogens, none of which have been proven, include:22

The immune cell involvement in polymyalgia rheumatica includes the activation of dendritic cells and monocytes/macrophages, leading to inflammation in the synovium and bursae of the shoulder and hip girdles which is primarily mediated by the innate immune system. There is an altered balance between Th17 and Treg cells, with increased IL-6 levels driving Th17 cell activation. Disturbed B cell distribution and function are also observed, with a decrease in circulating B cells that recover after steroid treatment. Additionally, systemic activation of circulating monocytes is associated with increased IL-6 and IL-1 beta production. Associations of uncertain significance with multiple types of TNF have also been found.23

Despite the severe pain associated with the condition in multiple muscle groups, as well as the signs of systemic inflammation, muscle biopsies have found no signs of localized inflammation in muscle tissue in patients with PMR. Electromyography studies also typically turn up normal. The only locations known definitively to be inflamed in PMR are the synovial membranes and bursae of joints.24

Persons having the HLA-DR4 type of human leucocyte antigen appear to have a higher risk of PMR.25

Diagnosis

No specific test exists to diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica; many other diseases can cause inflammation and pain in muscles, but a few tests can help narrow down the cause of the pain. Limitation in shoulder motion or swelling of the joints in the wrists or hands, are noted by the doctor.26

One blood test usually performed is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) which measures how fast the patient's red blood cells settle in a test tube. The faster the red blood cells settle, the higher the ESR value (measured in mm/hour), which suggests that inflammation may be present. Many conditions can cause an elevated ESR, so this test alone is not proof that a person has polymyalgia rheumatica.2728

Another test that checks the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood may also be conducted. CRP is produced by the liver in response to an injury or infection, and people with polymyalgia rheumatica usually have high levels.2930 However, like the ESR, this test is also not very specific.31

Polymyalgia rheumatica is sometimes associated with temporal arteritis, a condition requiring more aggressive therapy. To test for this additional disorder, a biopsy sample may be taken from the temporal artery.32

Treatment

Prednisone is the drug of choice for PMR,33 and treatment duration is frequently greater than one year.34 If the patient does not experience dramatic improvement after three days of 10–20 mg oral prednisone per day, the diagnosis should be reconsidered.35 Sometimes relief of symptoms occurs in only several hours.36

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are ineffective in the initial treatment of PMR,37 but they may be used in conjunction with the maintenance dose of corticosteroid.38

Along with medical treatment, patients are encouraged to exercise and eat healthily, helping to maintain a strong immune system and build strong muscles and bones.39 A diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat meat and dairy products, avoiding foods with high levels of refined sugars and salt is recommended.40 Research in the UK has also suggested that people with polymyalgia rheumatica would benefit from a falls assessment when first diagnosed, and regular treatment reviews.4142

Epidemiology

No circumstances are certain as to which an individual will get polymyalgia rheumatica, but a few factors show a relationship with the disorder:

  • Usually, PMR only affects adults over the age of 50.4344
  • The average age of a person who has PMR is about 70 years old,4546 with the highest prevalence in those older than 70.47
  • Women are three times as likely to get PMR as men.48
  • People of Western and Northern European descent are more likely to get this disease.49 It is more likely to affect people of Northern European origin; Scandinavians are especially vulnerable.50
  • About 50% of people with temporal arteritis also have polymyalgia rheumatica.51

See also

References

  1. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  2. Schmidt J, Warrington KJ (August 1, 2011). "Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis in older patients: diagnosis and pharmacological management". Drugs & Aging. 28 (8): 651–66. doi:10.2165/11592500-000000000-00000. PMID 21812500. S2CID 44787949. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩

  3. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica". National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. April 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2021. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/polymyalgia-rheumatica ↩

  4. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  5. Cimmino MA (1997). "Genetic and environmental factors in polymyalgia rheumatica". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 56 (10): 576–577. doi:10.1136/ard.56.10.576. PMC 1752263. PMID 9389216. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752263 ↩

  6. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  7. Dejaco C, Singh YP (October 2015). "2015 Recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 74 (10): 1799–807. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207492. hdl:2445/115060. PMID 26359488. https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fannrheumdis-2015-207492 ↩

  8. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica treatments and drugs". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs ↩

  9. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica definition". MayoClinic. May 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20080623104752/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441 ↩

  10. Davison S, Spiera H, Plotz CM (February 1966). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". Arthritis and Rheumatism. 9 (1): 18–23. doi:10.1002/art.1780090103. PMID 4952416. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩

  11. Plotz, Charles; Docken, William (May 2013). "Letters: More on the History of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis". The Rheumatologist. ACR/ARHP. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212223014/http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/4722531/Letters_More_on_the_History_of_Polymyalgia_Rheumatica_and_Giant_Cell_Arteritis.html ↩

  12. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  13. "Polymyalgia rheumatica". NHS. October 20, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2021. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/ ↩

  14. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica symptoms". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=symptoms ↩

  15. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  16. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  17. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  18. Gelfand JL (November 18, 2007). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis". WebMD. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://arthritis.webmd.com/polymyalgia-rheumatica-temporal-arteritis ↩

  19. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  20. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  21. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  22. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  23. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  24. Guggino, G.; Ferrante, A.; Macaluso, F.; Triolo, G.; Ciccia, F. (March 27, 2018). "Pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica". Reumatismo. 70 (1): 10–17. doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2018.1048. hdl:10447/399886. ISSN 2240-2683. https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1048 ↩

  25. Page 255 in: Elizabeth D Agabegi; Agabegi, Steven S. (2008). Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series). Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-7153-5. 978-0-7817-7153-5 ↩

  26. Shiel Jr WC (March 13, 2008). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) & Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)". MedicineNet. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://www.medicinenet.com/polymyalgia_rheumatica/article.htm ↩

  27. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica tests and diagnosis". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis ↩

  28. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica tests and diagnosis". MayoClinic. May 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20080623203621/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis ↩

  29. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica tests and diagnosis". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis ↩

  30. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica tests and diagnosis". MayoClinic. May 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20080623203621/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis ↩

  31. Buttgereit, Frank; Dejaco, Christian; Matteson, Eric L.; Dasgupta, Bhaskar (June 14, 2016). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: A Systematic Review". JAMA. 315 (22): 2442. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.5444. ISSN 0098-7484. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jama.2016.5444 ↩

  32. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica tests and diagnosis". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis ↩

  33. Hernández-Rodríguez J, Cid MC, López-Soto A, Espigol-Frigolé G, Bosch X (November 2009). "Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic review". Archives of Internal Medicine. 169 (20): 1839–50. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.352. PMID 19901135. https://doi.org/10.1001%2Farchinternmed.2009.352 ↩

  34. Shiel Jr WC (March 13, 2008). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) & Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)". MedicineNet. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://www.medicinenet.com/polymyalgia_rheumatica/article.htm ↩

  35. McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA (2010). Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. p. 767. ISBN 978-0071624442. 978-0071624442 ↩

  36. Hernández-Rodríguez J, Cid MC, López-Soto A, Espigol-Frigolé G, Bosch X (November 2009). "Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic review". Archives of Internal Medicine. 169 (20): 1839–50. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.352. PMID 19901135. https://doi.org/10.1001%2Farchinternmed.2009.352 ↩

  37. Docken WP (August 2009). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". American College of Rheumatology. Retrieved January 20, 2012. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/polymyalgiarheumatica.asp ↩

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  40. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica lifestyle and home remedies". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies ↩

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  42. Singh Sokal, Balamrit; Hilder, Samantha L.; Paskins, Zoe; Mallen, Christian D; Muller, Sara (2021). "Fragility fractures and prescriptions of medications for osteoporosis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: results from the PMR Cohort Study". Rheumatology Advances in Practice. 5 (3): rkab094. doi:10.1093/rap/rkab094. PMC 8712242. PMID 34988356. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8712242 ↩

  43. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  44. Docken WP (August 2009). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". American College of Rheumatology. Retrieved January 20, 2012. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/polymyalgiarheumatica.asp ↩

  45. Gelfand JL (November 18, 2007). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis". WebMD. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://arthritis.webmd.com/polymyalgia-rheumatica-temporal-arteritis ↩

  46. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica risk factors". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=risk-factors ↩

  47. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  48. Espígol-Frigolé, Georgina; Dejaco, Christian; Mackie, Sarah L; Salvarani, Carlo; Matteson, Eric L; Cid, Maria C (October 2023). "Polymyalgia rheumatica". The Lancet. 402 (10411): 1459–1472. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01310-7. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673623013107 ↩

  49. Gelfand JL (November 18, 2007). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis". WebMD. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://arthritis.webmd.com/polymyalgia-rheumatica-temporal-arteritis ↩

  50. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica risk factors". MayoClinic. December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441/DSECTION=risk-factors ↩

  51. Gelfand JL (November 18, 2007). "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis". WebMD. Retrieved June 10, 2008. http://arthritis.webmd.com/polymyalgia-rheumatica-temporal-arteritis ↩