Back to the future: identification and classification of polymyalgia rheumatica and polymyalgia rheumatica-like syndromes following cancer immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors

Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and PMR-like syndromes are among the most frequent rheumatologic immuno-related adverse events (IRAEs) induced by cancer immunotherapy with “checkpoint inhibitors” (ICIs). Our short communication addresses two key methodological issues laid bare by published literature : 1) how to diagnose PMR and PMR-like syndromes following ICI therapy, 2) how PMR/PMR-like syndromes following ICI therapy are described as adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

Keywords

• polymyalgia rheumatica
• cancer immunotherapy
• diagnostic and classification criteria
• adverse drug reactions.