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What is myositis?

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Myopathy is the medical term for muscle disease. Some muscle diseases occur when the body's immune system attacks muscles. The result is misdirected inflammation, hence the name inflammatory myopathies. This damages muscle tissue and makes muscles weak.

Most common types are polymyositis and dermatomyositis; however, this is a rapidly evolving field and new inflammatory myopathies are being described.

 

 

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What are the symptoms?

 

• Weakness in the large muscles around the neck, shoulders and hips

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• Trouble climbing stairs, getting up from a seat, or reaching for objects overhead

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• Little, if any, pain in the muscles

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• Choking while eating or aspiration (intake) of food into the lungs

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• Shortness of breath and cough (due to lung disease from myositis)

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• Skin rash (usually on hands, chest, upper back or around eyelids)

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• Myositis can be associated with other rheumatic conditions as well (overlap syndromes)

 

There are many causes of muscle disease other than inflammation. They include infection, muscle injury due to medicine, genetic diseases that affect muscle function, disorders of electrolyte levels, and thyroid disease.

 

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How is it diagnosed?

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A doctor suspects myopathy based on symptoms, clinical exam findings and test results (such as CK), EMG test, MRI, muscle biopsy, etc.

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In adults, certain types of myositis at times can be linked to cancer. 

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How is it treated?

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The first treatment is steroids, such as prednisone, at a high dose. Many other anti rheumatic medications can be used such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, IVIg, Rituximab, etc to get better long-range control of the disease and helps avoid long-term side effects of corticosteroids. 

 

 Physical therapy and exercise are important in the treatment of muscle disease. 

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This kind of rare disease needs immediate consultation with a rheumatologist.