Polymyalgia rheumatica echocardiography and ultrasound

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2], Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [3]

Overview

There are no echocardiography findings associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. Ultrasound exam is important for the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). It can reveal evidence of bursitis, synovitis or tenosynovitis in the affected areas.

Echocardiography

There are no echocardiography findings associated with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound of the affected joint might reveal one or more of the following:^[1]
- Subdeltoid bursitis
- Biceps tenosynovitis
- Glenohumeral synovitis (either posterior or axillary)
- Synovitis and/or trochanteric bursitis

Findings on ultrasound are part of the PMR diagnostic criteria scoring established by the European League Against Rheumatism and the American College of Rheumatology.^[1]

Ultrasound can be useful in monitoring of the patient’s’ response to the corticosteroid treatment and detecting any subclinical inflammation.^[2]

A study revealed that ultrasound can potentially help identifying patients with high inflammation who are at elevated risk of relapses or recurrences.^[3]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Dasgupta B, Cimmino MA, Maradit-Kremers H, Schmidt WA, Schirmer M, Salvarani C; et al. (2012). “2012 provisional classification criteria for polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative”. Ann Rheum Dis. 71 (4): 484–92. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200329. PMC 3298664. PMID 22388996.
↑ Jiménez-Palop M, Naredo E, Humbrado L; et al. (2010). “Ultrasonographic monitoring of response to therapy in polymyalgia rheumatica”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 69 (5): 879–82. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.113555. PMID 19773289. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Macchioni P, Catanoso MG, Pipitone N, Boiardi L, Salvarani C (2009). “Longitudinal examination with shoulder ultrasound of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica”. Rheumatology (Oxford). 48 (12): 1566–9. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep286. PMID 19808693. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[pmid22388996-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Dasgupta B, Cimmino MA, Maradit-Kremers H, Schmidt WA, Schirmer M, Salvarani C; et al. (2012). “2012 provisional classification criteria for polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative”. Ann Rheum Dis. 71 (4): 484–92. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200329. PMC 3298664. PMID 22388996.

[pmid19773289-2] Jiménez-Palop M, Naredo E, Humbrado L; et al. (2010). “Ultrasonographic monitoring of response to therapy in polymyalgia rheumatica”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 69 (5): 879–82. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.113555. PMID 19773289. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[pmid19808693-3] Macchioni P, Catanoso MG, Pipitone N, Boiardi L, Salvarani C (2009). “Longitudinal examination with shoulder ultrasound of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica”. Rheumatology (Oxford). 48 (12): 1566–9. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep286. PMID 19808693. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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