The main symptoms are weak, painful or aching muscles. This usually gets worse, slowly over time. You may also trip or fall a lot, and be very tired after walking or standing. If you have any of these symptoms you should see a GP.
For those of us with chronic autoimmune diseases, such as the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, generally referred to as myositis, stress can be even more damaging. It has been shown that stress can diminish our immune system, cause disease, and increase inflammation.
Its symptoms are similar to polymyositis and dermatomyositis, with weakness in both the upper and lower body, difficulty rising from low chairs, climbing stairs, or lifting objects. However, the onset of these symptoms can be more severe and sudden, reaching their peak over a period of days or weeks.
Infection. Viral infections are the most common infections causing myositis. Rarely, bacteria, fungi, or other organisms can cause myositis as well. Viruses or bacteria may invade muscle tissue directly, or release substances that damage muscle fibers.
It affects more men than women, and generally starts once people are over the age of 50.
In addition to these common myositis mimics, certain other neurologic diseases (such as ALS and cervical myelopathy), endocrinopathies (such as hypothyroidism), and infections (like toxoplasmosis) can also be mistaken for myositis, Dr.
After a careful history and physical exam to document the pattern of weakness in muscles, a doctor who suspects myositis likely will order a blood test to check the level of creatine kinase (CK), an enzyme that leaks out of muscle fibers when the fibers are being damaged. In PM, the CK level is usually very high.
The main symptoms are weak, painful or aching muscles. This usually gets worse, slowly over time. You may also trip or fall a lot, and be very tired after walking or standing. If you have any of these symptoms you should see a GP.
If left untreated, the muscle inflammation in myositis can lead to permanent muscle damage and loss of muscle mass. Myositis can be associated with problems in other organs like the joints and the lungs. In dermatomyositis, there is usually a rash or skin inflammation in addition to the muscle inflammation.
Physical exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce fatigue, increase stamina, and build muscle, even in patients with myositis.
MRI examination may reveal diffusely hyperintense T2-weighted signal within affected muscle groups, consistent with muscle edema of myositis [30]. Additional findings include muscle atrophy and fatty replacement which is more severe in patients with anti-SRP antibodies [29].
Corticosteroids, often called steroids, are used to decrease inflammation in myositis. The most commonly prescribed type is prednisone; others include: cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and betamethasone.
Patients with dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or necrotizing myopathy are usually treated by rheumatologists. Those with dermatomyositis may also work with a dermatologist.
Patients diagnosed with IBM progress to disability usually over a period of years. The older the age of onset is, the faster the loss of strength and mobility. By 15 years, most patients require assistance with basic daily routines, and some become wheelchair- bound or bedridden.
Nevertheless, myositis is a serious illness that, in most cases, needs to be treated aggressively. With inadequate or no treatment, myositis can cause significant disability and even death. There is no cure for any of the forms of myositis.
Like other rheumatic diseases, myositis is unlikely to go away on its own. But with proper treatment and management these chronic diseases can be brought under control. At present there is no cure for myositis. A person with myositis will need to manage the condition and to adjust to the changes it brings.
Muscle and skin biopsy are often the most definitive way to diagnose myositis diseases. Small samples of muscle tissue show abnormalities in muscles, including inflammation, damage, and abnormal proteins. For those with skin symptoms, doctors often biopsy a bit of skin to examine for characteristic abnormalities.
While muscle inflammation is the primary characteristic of this form of arthritis, myositis can also affect a number of organs such as your skin, lungs or heart. Myositis belongs to a larger group of diseases called myopathies, which are diseases that affect your muscles.
While sporadic inclusion body myositis is a progressive disease, life expectancy for those with sIBM is usually the same as for those without the disease. In fact, IBM patients usually don't die from the disease, but from complications (often preventable) that are associated with it.
When to suspect the diagnosis — The diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM) or polymyositis (PM) should be suspected in patients who present with proximal muscle weakness. The suspicion for DM in particular should be further increased if the patient has a cutaneous eruption suggestive of DM.
Myositis is a disease that can present in a variety of different forms, and can affect the whole body, not only the muscle. This can make it hard to make a diagnosis, but comprehensive assessment using all the tools available can make this possible, and hopefully will make it easier in the coming years.