Polymyalgia rheumatica: An update (Review)

Florescu,Mirela Marinela; Bobircă,Florin; Florescu,Alesandra; Pădureanu,Vlad; Bobircă,Anca; Ciurea,Paulina Lucia; Criveanu,Cristina; Florescu,Lucian Mihai; Mușetescu,Anca Emanuela

doi:10.3892/etm.2023.12242

Polymyalgia rheumatica: An update (Review)

Authors:
- Mirela Marinela Florescu
- Florin Bobircă
- Alesandra Florescu
- Vlad Pădureanu
- Anca Bobircă
- Paulina Lucia Ciurea
- Cristina Criveanu
- Lucian Mihai Florescu
- Anca Emanuela Mușetescu
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Affiliations: Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of General Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dr I. Cantacuzino Clinical Hospital, 050474 Bucharest, Romania, Department of Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Published online on: October 5, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12242
Article Number: 543
Copyright: © Florescu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the connective vascular tissue, characterized by pain accompanied by morning stiffness, predominantly of the neck muscles, hip and shoulder girdle. Usually, patients with this disease are >50 years of age and biological inflammatory syndrome is present with an increase in both the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‑reactive protein levels, aspects similar to giant cell arteritis. The aim of the present review was to depict the current pathogenic hypothesis, diagnostic and treatment approach for patients with PMR, and novelties since the development of the currently used 2012 European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology provisional classification criteria. PMR is a prevalent disease that can occasionally prove difficult to diagnose and treat. Possibly, the most abundant type of evidence and data revealed over the past decade have been acquired through musculoskeletal imaging, with implications in diagnosis, disease monitoring and relapse, prognosis and changes with treatment. Further research on pathophysiology is required to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying processes, which will serve as the foundation for future personalized treatments. In addition, there is an increasing demand for improved diagnostic techniques, which should include a further development of various imaging modalities, in order to provide accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

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