Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/19/2006 10:09:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,

hweiss@... writes:

What does PMR have to do with Parvovirus (the subject of your email)?

A Google search does not indicate a connection.

According to at least two infectious disease doctors in this area human

Parvovirus (which is not the same as that found in puppies) can be a cause of

PMR.

Jill

[Guest guest]

To the best of my knowledge, prednisone is the only known treatment

for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). By gradually decreasing the dosage

of prednisone, PMR can be cured in 1 to 2 years. Starting with 10 mg

of prednisone in December 2005, I am now down to 1 mg, and hope to be

down to 0 mg by January 15.

What does PMR have to do with Parvovirus (the subject of your email)?

A Google search does not indicate a connection.

Sincerely, Harald

At 07:48 AM 11/18/2006, you wrote:

>In a message dated 11/17/2006 8:52:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

><mailto:dsmcbee1%40alltel.net>dsmcbee1@... writes:

>

>My sister had it and the diagnosis was PMR. Her arms and legs felt

>like lead, she could hardly move, her joints hurt but not like they

>do with RA. The doctor prescribed 20mg daily of prednisone and she's

>been improving drastically since the first dose. She's down to about 5mg now.

>

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Please provide references, ideally web links. Since I have PMR, I am

most interested.

Sincerely, Harald

At 07:52 PM 11/19/2006, Jill wrote:

>... According to at least two infectious disease doctors in this

>area, human Parvovirus (which is not the same as that found in

>puppies) can be a cause of PMR...

>

>Jill

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/19/2006 11:54:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,

hweiss@... writes:

Please provide references, ideally web links. Since I have PMR, I am

most interested.

I'll see if my sister has any. I just know what the doctors said.

Jill

[Guest guest]

Harald,

If you enter >> PMR+parvovirus << without the carats, in a google search

you'll get several related articles. Of course the first one says there's no

connection, but many say there is. It's probably still under debate.

She definitely tested positive for the parvovirus, so that's what led to the

PMR diagnosis. Treatment with the prednisone is the first and only thing

that helped her.

Jill

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill,

A connection may exist between PMR and parovirus -- but this

connection is still only at the suspected stage. It's an intriguing topic.

Sincerely, Harald

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN & cpsidt=15369413

" Parvovirus B19 infection was unrelated to the onset of PMR. "

http://www.jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts03/2624.html

" Onset of symptoms in PMR is unrelated to seasonal pattern. Yet

almost 50% of cases occurred in the months of May, February, and

August. Parvovirus B19 infection was unrelated to the onset of PMR.

(J Rheumatol 2003;30:2624-6). "

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/polymyalgia.htm

" Some people notice a flu-like illness just prior to the onset of

symptoms - occasionally, this turns out to be caused by a parvovirus

infection - but in most cases PMR is spontaneous and has no known cause. "

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40001184/

" A viral or infectious cause has also been suspected due to the

increased prevalence of antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus and

adenovirus in PMR and the association between the increased incidence

of the disorder and epidemics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Parvovirus

B19 and Chlamydia pneumoniae. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=8\

838518 & dopt=Abstract

" The close concurrence with epidemics of M. pneumoniae and the

coincidence of 2 epidemics of parvovirus B19 and of one epidemic of

C. pneumoniae in some locations with peak incidences of TA and PMR

suggest that TA and PMR may be triggered by certain virus and/or

bacterial agents. "

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/arthritis/tabID__3376/ItemID__131/PageID__25\

5/Articles/Default.aspx

" There is some interest in the parvovirus as a possible trigger of

rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. "

http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/polymyalgia_rheumatica

" Patients with PMR often have HLA DRB1*04 and DRB1*01 alleles, which

may influence disease severity. Suspected environmental triggers

include the human parvovirus B19, the adenovirus and the human

parainfluenza virus. "

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/448336_3

A possible infectious cause of PMR and GCA is suggested by the sudden

onset of symptoms. A variety of viral and bacterial agents have been

postulated such as influenza, parvovirus B 19, Mycoplasma pneumoniae,

Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Borrelia burgdorferi.

http://www.arc.org.uk/about_arth/med_reports/series4/tr/6602/6602.htm

" There are reports of links with adenovirus, respiratory syncytial

virus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, parvovirus B19, chlamydia pneumoniae

and human para-influenza virus (HPIV) (12,16,17). A study from France

found an association with HPIV type I, especially in the

biopsy-positive subset of GCA patients at onset of the disease (18). "

At 06:31 AM 11/20/2006, you wrote:

>Harald,

>If you enter >> PMR+parvovirus << without the carats, in a google

>search you'll get several related articles. Of course the first one

>says there's no connection, but many say there is. It's probably

>still under debate.

>

>She definitely tested positive for the parvovirus, so that's what

>led to the PMR diagnosis. Treatment with the prednisone is the first

>and only thing that helped her.

>

>Jill

>

[Guest guest]

Martha,

My sister-in-law had Polymyalgia Rheumatica some years ago. She was treated

with Medrol, a form of prednisone, and has since gone into remission. Her

physician was one in New York City, but I don't know the name. She no longer

takes Medrol, doesn't need it any more.

>

> I have a friend recently diagnosed with PMR and of course her rheumy has her

on prednisone. Can this autoimmune disease be treated by AP - Minocin? Has

anyone used AP for PMR?

>