Polymyositis
Polymyositis is an inflammatory muscle disease that causes muscle weakness .The condition is thought to be an auto immune disease .
Myositis means inflammation of muscle . Usually , polymyositis affects the muscles that are closest to the trunk of the body .
Polymyositis sufferers have trouble when rising from say from a sitting position , usually muscles that are not close to the trunk of the body become affected as the disease progresses .
Polymyositis develops gradually overall time , and it rarely affects persons younger than 18 years . It is more common in women ( by about 2 to 1 ) .
The following symptoms of polymyositis come and go :
+ Muscle weakness is the most common symptom , with muscles involved usually those closest to the trunk of the body .
+ Difficulty getting up from chairs , climbing stairs , or lifting objects . ( Sometimes even trouble with getting up after lying down .)
+ Difficulty swallowing .
+ Muscle aches that in some cases are tender to the touch .
+ Fatigue and fever .
+ Shortness of breath due to heart and lung involvement .
+ Patchy red or violet rash around the eyes .
+ Weight loss
+ Raynaud’s Phenomenon , a condition in which the fingers or toes become very cold and discolored due to bloodflow problems .
The diagnosis of the disease usually begins with a doctor’s examination and blood testing . Polymyositis patients often have unusually high levels of muscle enzymes . The enzymes are released into the blood by muscle that is being damaged by inflammation .
Polymyositis is very rare in children and affects women more than men
+ Routine blood and urine tests can check for internal organ abnormalities .
+ Muscle biopsy is a surgical procedure in which muscle tissue is removed and examined . It is used to confirm the presence of muscle inflammation typical only of polymyositis .
+ Electromyography ( EMG ) is an electrical test of muscle and nerves that can show abnormal findings typical of polymyositis .
Polymyositis is treated with high doses of corticosteroids as a first course if treatment . Corticosteroids effectively decrease the inflammation in the muscles but do not adequately improve polymyositis .
In severe cases of polymyositis , the intravenous infusion of immunoglobulins ( IVIG) has been an effective treatment .
Physical therapy is important in polymyositis treatment .
With early medical treatment of the disease and disease flares , polymyositis patients can do well as the disease eventually becomes inactive , enabling the patient to focus on muscle rehabilitation .
Polymyositis complications include :
+ Trouble swallowing happens as the muscles in the esophagus are affected . It can lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
+ Aspiration pneumonia is when you breathe food or liquid ( including saliva ) into your lungs because you can’t swallow well . It can cause pneumonia .
+ Breathing problems :If your chest muscles are affected , you could have shortness of breath , or , at worst , respiratory failure .
The prognosis for polymyositis depends on how severe a case you have . Most people respond to treatment and get some of their muscle strength back . Some weakness may remain , and your symptoms could come back .
While it’s a real relief that polymyositis is rarely life-threatening , you could wind up disabled if you don’t respond to treatment .
Since polymyositis raises your risk for an autoimmune condition , do contact a qualified rheumatologist at the earliest convenience for an effective and tailored personal treatment plan .
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