Jacques Forestier

Jacques Forestier (27 July 1890 - 15 March 1978) was a French internist who was a pioneer in the field of rheumatology. He studied and practiced medicine in Paris, and was founder of the National French Society of Rheumatology. His father, Henri Forestier was a director at the therapeutic spas in Aix-les-Bains.

Jacques Forestier is remembered for his introduction of gold salts as a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. Today, injectable gold salts such as gold sodium thiomalate and aurothioglucose are considered by many to be the most effective treatment for arthritic ailments. Forestier is also credited for his descriptions of the diseases polymyalgia rheumatica and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

With his instructor Jean-Athanase Sicard (1872-1929), Forestier demonstrated the use of Lipiodol for spinal X-ray examinations.

Olympics

He competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics as rugby union player for France. As a member of the French team he won the silver medal.

Associated Eponyms

• Forestier's disease: also known as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). It is a type of degenerative spinal arthritis found in the elderly.
• Forestier's bowstring sign (signe de la corde de l'arc); a sign seen in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).[1]

Bibliography

• Méthode radiographique d’exploration de la cavité épidurale par la lipiodol. Written with Jean Athanase Sicard (1872-1929). (Lipide (iodised oil) first used in radiology).
• L’exploration radiologique des cavités broncho-pulmonaires par les injections intra-trachéales d’huile iodée.(with Jean-Athanase Sicard)
• L'aurothérapie dans les rhumatismes chroniques (Introduction of gold therapy)

References

• Jacques Forestier @ Who Named It
• Olympics profile
• [2] Gold for Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis