Methotrexate in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Kernel of Truth or Curse of Tantalus?
Authors: John H. Stone
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Editorials5 October 2004Methotrexate in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Kernel of Truth or Curse of Tantalus?John H. Stone, MD, MPHJohn H. Stone, MD, MPHFrom The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, Baltimore, MD 21224.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-7-200410050-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In Greek mythology, King Tantalus, a son of Zeus, was a mortal favored by the gods. Invited to share ambrosia—food of the gods—Tantalus committed some unspecified breach of protocol, leading swiftly to his downfall. The unfortunate king was consigned to the lower world, there to undertake his punishment: eternal immersion in water up to his neck. More diabolically, whenever Tantalus tilted his head to drink, the water drained away. Although luscious fruit hung above him on trees, whenever he extended his arms to grasp it, winds blew the branches beyond reach. From Tantalus's name comes the English verb tantalize. In ...References1. Caporali R, Cimmino MA, Ferraccioli G, Gerli R, Klersy C, Salvarani C, et al . Prednisone plus methotrexate for polymyalgia rheumatica. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:493-500. LinkGoogle Scholar2. van der Veen MJ, Dinant HJ, van Booma-Frankfort C, van Albada-Kuipers GA, Bijlsma JW. Can methotrexate be used as a steroid sparing agent in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? Ann Rheum Dis. 1996;55:218-23. [PMID: 8733437] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Jover JA, Hernandez-Garcia C, Morado IC, Vargas E, Banares A, Fernandez-Gutierrez B. Combined treatment of giant-cell arteritis with methotrexate and prednisone. a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:106-14. [PMID: 11177313] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Hoffman GS, Cid MC, Hellmann DB, Guillevin L, Stone JH, Schousboe J, et al . A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adjuvant methotrexate treatment for giant cell arteritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2002;46:1309-18. [PMID: 12115238] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Hoffman GS, Stone JH. Disparate results in studies of methotrexate plus corticosteroids in the treatment of giant cell arteritis [Letter]. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48:1160-1. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM, Tesser JR, Schiff MH, Keystone EC, et al . A comparison of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2000;343:1586-93. [PMID: 11096165] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Design of the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET). Control Clin Trials. 2002;23:450-68. [PMID: 12161090] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: John H. Stone, MD, MPHAffiliations: From The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, Baltimore, MD 21224.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: John H. Stone, MD, MPH, The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, 1B.23, Baltimore, MD 21224; e-mail, jstone@jhmi.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPrednisone plus Methotrexate for Polymyalgia Rheumatica Roberto Caporali , Marco A. Cimmino , Gianfranco Ferraccioli , Roberto Gerli , Catherine Klersy , Carlo Salvarani , and Carlomaurizio Montecucco , for the Systemic Vasculitis Study Group of the Italian Society for RheumatologyThe Curse of Tantalus Mark H. Beers Metrics Cited byRetrospective analysis of the usefulness of a protocol with high-dose methotrexate in polymyalgia rheumatica: Results of a single-center cohort of 100 patientsDrug therapies for polymyalgia rheumatica: a pharmacotherapeutic updatePolymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritisPolymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritisPolymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell ArteritisVasculitis in the Geriatric PopulationPolimialgia reumática en el varónFasten im Rahmen einer naturheilkundlichen Komplextherapie der Polymyalgia rheumaticaNovel Therapeutic Strategies for Large Vessel VasculitisVasculitis in the Geriatric PopulationMet methotrexaat zijn minder corticosteroïden nodig bij polymyalgia rheumaticaThe Curse of TantalusMark H. Beers, MD 5 October 2004Volume 141, Issue 7Page: 568-569KeywordsDrug regulationDrugsEffective doseHand strengthMethotrexateMorbidityPatientsPolymyalgia rheumaticaRandomized trialsVasculitis ePublished: 5 October 2004 Issue Published: 5 October 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...