Polymyositis - adult

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Superficial anterior muscles

Polymyositis is a systemic disease, which means it affects the whole body. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Muscle pain
• Muscle weakness in the proximal muscles (shoulders, hips, etc.) that makes it difficult to raise the arms over the head, get up from a sitting position, or climb stairs
• Problems with the voice (caused by weak throat muscles)
• Shortness of breath

Patients may also have:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Morning stiffness
• Weight loss

A similar condition called dermatomyositis causes a reddish-purple or red rash on the face or body.

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Muscle weakness and tenderness can be signs of polymyositis. A rash is a sign of a similar condition, dermatomyositis.

Tests may include:

• Autoimmune antibodies and inflammation tests
• CPK
• Electromyography
• MRI of affected muscles
• Muscle biopsy
• Myoglobin in the urine
• Serum aldolase

Patients with this condition must be carefully monitored for cancer.

Review Date: 02/07/2011
Reviewed By: Michael E. Makover, MD, professor attending in Rheumatology at the New York University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).