The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / The Quest for Olympic Gold

The Quest for Olympic Gold

September 1, 2008 • By David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD

After my editorials on coaching, I was going to give sports a rest and move on to more weighty topics worthy of a medical magazine. The inspiration well was also dry. The European Cup was over. Tiger was out for the season. The sports section was dreary, as rap sheets and tox screens crowded away the box scores.

You Might Also Like
  • A History of the Science, Treatment of Rheumatologic Illnesses from Gold to Gene Therapy
  • Texas Establishes Gold Card for Prior Authorization Exemption
  • Dr. Engleman Receives Gold Medal from Columbia University
Explore This Issue
September 2008
Also By This Author
  • From Bimbo to Barajas Airport: Some Surreal Moments and a Ticket Home

On the verge of describing a diagnostic dilemma I encountered in clinic (trust me, a real puzzler), I saw a sports story I could not resist. As the news media reported endlessly and breathlessly, Sanya Richards, winner of the U.S. Olympic trials in the 400-meter dash, has Behçet’s disease, a serious and rare affliction which nevertheless did not prevent a rousing victory.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

As a human interest story, the account of Richards has the requisite stuff: a dire diagnosis, triumph over adversity, and a saga of personal courage. This combo is a journalistic trifecta to keep any sports fan transfixed in front of the TV as Richards’ exploits enfold.

Because Behçet’s is in rheumatology’s bailiwick, I was happy to have the media’s spotlight shine on one of our diseases, according it its fifteen minutes of fame. Furthermore, since therapy had seemingly restored Richards to world-class health, I could think of no better recommendation of our specialty’s skill than the sight of Richards beaming on the winner’s stand.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Interest (and Press) for Rheumatology

While I thought that this was nifty story, I had a sense of discomfort for, you see, I have heard it before. Consider for a moment, the following athletes and their diseases. Wilma Rudolph, the winner of the three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics, had both polio and scarlet fever as a child. Her bio says that she wore heavy metal braces and that her mother massaged her legs to stimulate recovery.

Another heroine with immune system problems is Gail Devers, the only woman to win consecutive Olympic 100-meter dashes. Devers had Graves’ disease with muscle involvement so severe that her doctors were planning to amputate her feet. Finally, there is Michelle Akers. Once named soccer player of the century, Akers suffered from the debilitating effects of chronic fatigue syndrome, a possible complication of mononucleosis, that left her so exhausted and depleted she needed intravenous fluids to finish her matches.

Given the way athletes beat up their bodies, I expect them to have more than their share of musculoskeletal problems—popped tendons, shredded ligaments, and cracked bones. The immune problems of the athletes, however, are remarkable in their variety and severity.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Opinion, Practice Management, Professional Topics, Rheuminations Tagged With: Behçet’s syndrome, Clinical, Olympics, SportsIssue: September 2008

You Might Also Like:
  • A History of the Science, Treatment of Rheumatologic Illnesses from Gold to Gene Therapy
  • Texas Establishes Gold Card for Prior Authorization Exemption
  • Dr. Engleman Receives Gold Medal from Columbia University
  • The Quest for Quality

Patient & Caregiver Resources

Find a rheumatology provider. Learn about your condition and how to live with it. English and Spanish language resources.

View Patient & Caregiver Resources »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)