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Polymyositis (pol-e-mi-o-SI-tis) is an uncommon connective tissue disease. It's a type of inflammatory myopathy, which is characterized by muscle inflammation and weakness. The most noticeable characteristic of polymyositis is weakness of the skeletal muscles, which control movement.
Polymyositis can occur at any age, but it mostly affects adults sometime between their 30s and 50s. It's more common in blacks than in whites, and women are affected more often than men are. Polymyositis signs and symptoms usually develop gradually, over weeks or months.
Periods of remission in polymyositis, during which symptoms improve spontaneously, rarely occur. However, treatment can improve your muscle strength and function. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyositis/DS00334)
Polymyositis is slightly more common in females. It affects all age groups, although its onset is most common in middle childhood and in the 20s. Polymyositis occurs throughout the world. Polymyositis can be associated with skin rash and is then referred to as "dermatomyositis." It also can affect other areas of the body and is, therefore, referred to as a systemic illness. Occasionally, it is associated with cancer or with other diseases of connective tissue (see systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis).
What causes polymyositis?
To date, no cause of polymyositis has been isolated by scientific researchers. There are indicators of heredity (genetic) susceptibility that can be found in some patients. There is indirect evidence of infection by a virus that has yet to be identified in a form of polymyositis that is particularly resistant to treatment, called inclusion body myositis. This form of polymyositis is diagnosed by the pathologist, a physician specialist who interprets the microscope findings of muscle tissue. The muscle tissue in this form of polymyositis displays clear areas within the muscle cells (called vacuoles) when viewed under the magnification of a microscope.
Researchers from Sweden at the national meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in 2007 reported their findings that T-cells of the immune system in some polymyositis or dermatomyositis patients reacted against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and that detectable antibodies against CMV were present. Their conclusion was that there may be subsets of patients who develop their disease, in part, because of infection with this particular virus.
Aside from diseases with which polymyositis can be associated (as mentioned above), many other diseases and conditions can mimic polymyositis. These include nerve-muscle diseases (such as muscular dystrophies), drug toxins (such as alcohol, cocaine, steroids, colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, and cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins), metabolic disorders (where muscle cells are unable to process chemicals normally), hormone disorders (such as abnormal thyroid), calcium and magnesium conditions, and infectious diseases (such as influenza virus, AIDS, streptococcus and Lyme bacteria, pork tapeworm and schistosomiasis).(http://www.medicinenet.com/polymyositis/article.htm)
Aimee Boyle is a freelance writer, teacher and mother in Connecticut. She enjoys spending time with her sons making pancakes, teaching them guitar, singing Beatles songs, playing with the dog and learning how to stay organized. It's a work in progress.
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I have had constant joint and muscle pain for the last year and half - tested for arthritis, lupus but negative - seems to be getting worsen - mostly in my hands and my hips. Often have the feeling of joints being 'frozen' and cold. Hands feel contractured in the am and take a long time to work out the pain. Diagnosed as fibromyalgia - nothing seems to help - meds, exercise, physio......
April 7, 2010 - 11:14amalso have numbness in my hands and feet, around my face - diagnosed as anxiety and depression
Frequent Abdominal discomfort and cramping - have had surgery to remove polyps in my uterus due to precancerous cells, then my uterus removed for the same reason and now a wide local excision of the vulva for stage 0 carcinoma-in-situ.
Also have issues with bladder control and leakage where I just don't feel the urge to go or where I feel an incredible urge to void but then can't.
Extreme fatigue and weakness. Constant daily headaches.
I also am positive for Malignant Hyperthermia (musle biopsy done when I was in my teens).
Increased liver enzymes in my blood, increased ESR and CRP levels. Live blood cell analysis showed a lot of inflammation and liver overload.
Is it possible that the joint pain / muscle pain is polymyositis and is associated with the neoplasia cells in my female organs? I'd read about antineoplastic polymyositis and am wondering if this is possibly what is going on with me?.......
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