PMR Flair up From a Virus?

Posted by christopherc @christopherc, Jun 27, 2022

Has anyone with a Polymyalgia Rheumatica had a significant flareup that they think was triggered by a virus such as a cold, COVID-19 or the flu? I have and I was wondering whether anyone else has had this experience and if so, if they know why a virus might trigger a flareup or a relapse.

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@nancy53

Scandinavian heritage is well represented too.

I wonder why these ethnic groups are more susceptible?

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This from Cecil and Goldman's text book of medicine, Chapter on GCA and PMR:

"These disorders occur primarily in patients older than 50 years, in women more than in men; they are propagated by antigen-driven cell mediated (TH1) immune mechanisms that may be associated with specific genetic markers, and they are highly responsive to corticosteroids.
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Internationally, the frequency varies, with the highest rate occurring in Scandanavian countries."

My mother-in-law, British and French ancestry, had GCA. My maternal aunt, primarily Italian had it, and I, primarily Italian and Greek ancestry, also had it. A friend's mother, Portuguese ancestry, also had it.

It was first recorded in Baghdad in the 10th century by Ali Ibn Isa (Medical History Bayor Taylor Horton's headache era, Shelley 2013).

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@tsc

This from Cecil and Goldman's text book of medicine, Chapter on GCA and PMR:

"These disorders occur primarily in patients older than 50 years, in women more than in men; they are propagated by antigen-driven cell mediated (TH1) immune mechanisms that may be associated with specific genetic markers, and they are highly responsive to corticosteroids.
.
Internationally, the frequency varies, with the highest rate occurring in Scandanavian countries."

My mother-in-law, British and French ancestry, had GCA. My maternal aunt, primarily Italian had it, and I, primarily Italian and Greek ancestry, also had it. A friend's mother, Portuguese ancestry, also had it.

It was first recorded in Baghdad in the 10th century by Ali Ibn Isa (Medical History Bayor Taylor Horton's headache era, Shelley 2013).

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How interesting. Thank you.

I check all the boxes. Drat.

There's a PMR/GCA Facebook group that I belong to. I'll share this information with them.

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