Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica a Paraneoplastic Syndrome?

This report raises the concern in patients with newly diagnosed PMR.

The onset of polyarthritis and myalgias in elders raises the specter not only of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polyarticular crystal disease, and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), but also of paraneoplastic syndromes. Risk for cancer is slightly heightened in patients with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus, but risk in patients with PMR is unknown. In this U.K. study, investigators identified nearly 3000 patients (mean age, 72) with newly diagnosed PMR who did not have preexisting cancers or vascular disease and who were treated with steroids; these patients were compared with an age-matched non-PMR 10,000-patient cohort. Patients were followed until first cancer diagnosis or death.

During mean follow-up of 7.8 years, 23.2% of PMR patients develo…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica a Paraneoplastic Syndrome?

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Reviewing Author