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Polymyalgia rheumatica in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a report of 5 cases
1Department of Rheumatology, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel.
Objective:
To report the cases of 5 elderly male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who developed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Materials And Methods:
The files of 5 patients with AS who developed PMR were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and outcome of these patients were summarized.
Results:
All 5 patients were male, 65-80 years old at the time of their PMR diagnosis. The diagnosis of AS was made simultaneously based on clinical and radiological data; the age at onset of symptoms retrospectively attributable to AS was 20-40 years in three cases, while in the two other patients it could not be determined. The patients presented with typical symptoms of PMR and responded to steroid treatment. HLA B27 was found in three cases, while HLA DR did not show a consistent pattern.
Conclusions:
The coexistence of AS and PMR could be more than coincidental. Further screening of both patient populations is needed to assess the true extent of this preliminary observation.
Insights
Five elderly men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) developed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). This suggests a potential link between AS and PMR that warrants further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition characterized by muscle pain and stiffness, predominantly in older adults.
Observation:
- This study reports on five elderly male patients diagnosed with both ankylosing spondylitis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
- Patients presented with typical polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms and showed positive responses to corticosteroid therapy.
Findings:
- The ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis was established concurrently with polymyalgia rheumatica, based on clinical and radiological evidence.
- Human Leukocyte Antigen B27 (HLA B27) was present in three of the five patients, while HLA DR showed no consistent pattern.
- The onset of ankylosing spondylitis symptoms ranged from young adulthood to an undetermined age in the affected individuals.
Implications:
- The observed co-occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis and polymyalgia rheumatica may suggest a relationship beyond mere coincidence.
- Further research is recommended to explore the prevalence and potential underlying mechanisms connecting these two conditions in affected patient populations.
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