Polymyositis

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. Its name means "inflammation of many muscles" (poly- + myos- + -itis). The inflammation of polymyositis is mainly found in the endomysial layer of skeletal muscle, where as dermatomyositis is characterized primarily by inflammation of the perimysial layer of skeletal muscles.[1]

Not to be confused with poliomyelitis.
Polymyositis
Micrograph of polymyositis. Muscle biopsy. H&E stain.
SpecialtyRheumatology

Signs and symptoms

The hallmark of polymyositis is weakness and/or loss of muscle mass in the proximal musculature, as well as flexion of the neck and torso.[1] These symptoms can be associated with marked pain in these areas as well. The hip extensors are often severely affected, leading to particular difficulty in climbing stairs and rising from a seated position. The skin involvement of dermatomyositis is absent in polymyositis. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or other problems with esophageal motility occur in as many as 1/3 of patients. Low grade fever and enlarged lymph nodes may be present. Foot drop in one or both feet can be a symptom of advanced polymyositis and inclusion body myositis. The systemic involvement of polymyositis includes interstitial lung disease (ILD) and heart disease, such as heart failure and conduction abnormalities.[2]

Polymyositis tends to become evident in adulthood, presenting with bilateral proximal muscle weakness often noted in the upper legs due to early fatigue while walking. Sometimes the weakness presents itself as an inability to rise from a seated position without help or an inability to raise one's arms above one's head. The weakness is generally progressive, accompanied by lymphocytic inflammation (mainly cytotoxic T cells).

Associated illnesses

Polymyositis and the associated inflammatory myopathies have an associated increased risk of cancer.[3] The features they found associated with an increased risk of cancer was older age, age greater than 45, male sex, difficulty swallowing, death of skin cells, cutaneous vasculitis, rapid onset of myositis (<4 weeks), elevated creatine kinase, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and higher C-reactive protein levels. Several factors were associated with lower-than-average risk, including the presence of interstitial lung disease, joint inflammation/joint pain, Raynaud's syndrome, or anti-Jo-1 antibody.[3] The malignancies that are associated are nasopharyngeal cancer, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and bladder cancer, amongst others.[4]

Cardiac involvement manifests itself typically as heart failure, and is present in up to 77% of patients.[2] Interstitial lung disease is found in up to 65% of patients with polymyositis, as defined by HRCT or restrictive ventilatory defects compatible with interstitial lung disease.[5]

Causes

Polymyositis is an inflammatory myopathy mediated by cytotoxic T cells with an as yet unknown autoantigen, while dermatomyositis is a humorally mediated angiopathy resulting in myositis and a typical dermatitis.[6]

The cause of polymyositis is unknown and may involve viruses and autoimmune factors. Cancer may trigger polymyositis and dermatomyositis, possibly through an immune reaction against cancer that also attacks a component of muscles.[7] There is tentative evidence of an association with celiac disease.[8]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is fourfold: History and physical examination, elevation of creatine kinase, electromyograph (EMG) alteration, and a positive muscle biopsy.[9]

The hallmark clinical feature of polymyositis is proximal muscle weakness, with less important findings being muscle pain and dysphagia. Cardiac and pulmonary findings will be present in approximately 25% of cases of patients with polymyositis.

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM): IBM is often confused with (misdiagnosed as) polymyositis or dermatomyositis that does not respond to treatment is likely IBM. sIBM comes on over months to years; polymyositis comes on over weeks to months. Polymyositis tends to respond well to treatment, at least initially; IBM does not.

Treatment

The first line treatment for polymyositis is corticosteroids. Specialized exercise therapy may supplement treatment to enhance quality of life.

Epidemiology

Polymyositis, like dermatomyositis, strikes females with greater frequency than males.

Notable cases

See also

References
  1. Strauss KW, Gonzalez-Buritica H, Khamashta MA, Hughes GR (July 1989). "Polymyositis-dermatomyositis: a clinical review". Postgraduate Medical Journal. 65 (765): 437–43. doi:10.1136/pgmj.65.765.437. PMC 2429417. PMID 2690042.
  2. Zhang L, Wang GC, Ma L, Zu N (November 2012). "Cardiac involvement in adult polymyositis or dermatomyositis: a systematic review". Clinical Cardiology. 35 (11): 686–91. doi:10.1002/clc.22026. PMC 6652370. PMID 22847365.
  3. Xin Lu; Hanbo Yang; Xiaoming Shu; Fang Chen; Yinli Zhang; Sigong Zhang; Qinglin Peng; Xiaolan Tian; Guochun Wang (2014). "Factors Predicting Malignancy in Patients with Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". PLOS ONE. 9 (4): e94128. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...994128L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094128. PMC 3979740. PMID 24713868.
  4. Hill, C.L.; Zhang, Y.; Sigurgeirsson, B.; Pukkala, E.; Mellemkjaer, L.; Airio, A.; Evans, S.R.; Felson, D.T. (January 2001). "Frequency of specific cancer types in dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a population-based study". Lancet. 357 (9250): 96–100. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03540-6. PMID 11197446. S2CID 35258253. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. Fathi M, Dastmalchi M, Rasmussen E, Lundberg IE, Tornling G (March 2004). "Interstitial lung disease, a common manifestation of newly diagnosed polymyositis and dermatomyositis". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 63 (3): 297–301. doi:10.1136/ard.2003.006122. PMC 1754925. PMID 14962966.
  6. Gerald J D Hengstman, Baziel G M van Engelen (2004). "Polymyositis, invasion of non-necrotic muscle fibres, and the art of repetition". British Medical Journal. 329 (7480): 1464–1467. doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7480.1464. PMC 535982. PMID 15604185.
  7. Hajj-ali, Rula A. (August 2013). "Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis". Merck Manual Home Edition. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  8. Shapiro M, Blanco DA (2017). "Neurological Complications of Gastrointestinal Disease". Semin Pediatr Neurol (Review). 24 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1016/j.spen.2017.02.001. PMID 28779865.
  9. Scola RH, Werneck LC, Prevedello DM, Toderke EL, Iwamoto FM (September 2000). "Diagnosis of dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a study of 102 cases". Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 58 (3B): 789–99. doi:10.1590/S0004-282X2000000500001. PMID 11018813.
  10. "Dan Christensen, 64, Painter of Abstract Art, Dies". The New York Times. 27 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  11. "Obituary - Robert Erickson". SF Gate. 29 April 1997. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. Stevens, Jr., George (2006). Conversations with the Great Moviemakers of Hollywood's Golden Age at the American Film Institute. Knopf. p. 427. ISBN 978-1-4000-4054-4.
  13. Brownlow, Kevin (1996). David Lean: A Biography. Macmillan. pp. 1466–1467. ISBN 978-1-4668-3237-4. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
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External resources
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