May 30, 2025
In this episode, we dive into the history of polymyalgia rheumatica, how it was discovered and its link to giant cell arteritis.
- Intro 0:01
- In this episode 0:10
- What is polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)? 0:24
- The history of PMR 02:12
- PMR in the 1950s: A formally recognized disease 04:52
- What was probably PMR in the 1880s 06:27
- Naming PMR: Senile rheumatic gout 07:26
- 1957: The witch’s shot and finally landing on polymyalgia rheumatica 08:30
- Where is PMR coming from? 14:42
- Injecting joins with saline 16:39
- A biopsy study in 1964 19:54
- Technetium bone scintigraphy in 1971 and bone scan history 23:01
- First look at a PMR ultrasound in 1993 27:00
- 1997: First use of MRI on PMR patients in Italy 27:49
- Going back to 1962: PMRs association with giant cell arteritis 30:40
- A paper on muscular involvement in giant cell arteritis: 80-year-old ‘robust’ partially blind seaman 32:15
- First systematic approach: The link between PMR and giant cell arteritis 35:14
- 80 cases of PMR 38:13
- Swedish autopsy studies 41:07
- Introduction of advanced imaging in the 1990s 42:40
- Summing up PMR through the decades 43:28
- That is the end! 45:25
- Thanks for listening 45:50
We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Brown at rheuminationspodcast@healio.com. Follow us on Twitter @HRheuminations @AdamJBrownMD @HealioRheum.
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AS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1966;doi:10.1136/ard.25.3.203.
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B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1968;doi:10.1136/ard.27.5.397.
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Disclosures: Brown reports no relevant financial disclosures.