History of polymyalgia rheumatica: The origin of the pain & link to giant cell arteritis

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 [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @HRheuminations @AdamJBrownMD @HealioRheum. References: Bruk MI. Ann Rheum Dis. 1967;doi:10.1136/ard.26.2.103. Cantini F, et al. J Rheumatol. 2001;28(5):1049-55. De Miguel E, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024;doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kead189. Dixon AS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1966;doi:10.1136/ard.25.3.203. Hamrin B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1968;doi:10.1136/ard.27.5.397. Salvarani C, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1997;doi:10.7326/0003-4819-127-1-199707010-00005. Shah S, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025;doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keae569. Disclosures: Brown reports no relevant financial disclosures.