Pericarditis and PMR

Is anyone aware of a link between pericarditis and PMR? I developed PMR quite suddenly last February. However, in September last year I had an attack of pericarditis. I did recover but did not feel completely better until the PMR was diagnosed and I started the steroids.

[SnazzyD]

It wouldn’t surprise me and if one Googles PMR and pericarditis plenty of links come up linking it and cardiac problems, GCA too. People often report here an infection as being the trigger for PMR. Which came first, the big question?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The steroids would almost certainly calm down any lingering effects of the pericarditis.

But it is very likely the cause of the PMR was already active in September - many people who had an apparently sudden onset of PMR realise that there had been something "not right" for months, even years, beforehand.

You might find this interesting:

americannursetoday.com/poly...

[Gary1310 in reply to PMRpro]

I am thinking that I was lucky to have a PMR diagnosis at the first sign of major symptoms. With Prednisone, I may have escaped even more serious problems.

I had minor symptoms for a couple years before diagnosis. Thinking positive thoughts....now on 5 mg., doing well.

[Christophene]

I would think there could be. Again, I mention Dr. Das Gupta and his colleagues are quite convinced that there is an overlay between GCA and PMR. They wrote about it in 2017, not long ago.

If he is correct , your pericarditis may have been an aspect of GCA which attacks the large vessels near the heart and other places in the chest.

I can't give you a definitive answer, but it seems logical. He also wrote that GCA has become all about the head, but not so. Large vessels go to and from the heart, and GCA is an inflammation of the large vessels in the chest, abdomen, groin, etc..

Glad your feeling better in any event.

[Hidden in reply to Christophene]

Thanks everyone!