Polymyositis is a rare, chronic and degenerative disease characterized by progressive inflammation of the muscles, which causes pain, weakness and difficulty in making movements. Inflammation usually occurs in the muscles associated with the trunk, meaning there may be damage to the neck, hips, back, thighs and shoulders, for example.
The main cause of polymyositis is autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system begins to attack the body itself, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma and Sjogren’s syndrome, for example. This disease is more common in women and diagnosis usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, and polymyositis is rare in children.
- The initial diagnosis is based on an assessment of the person’s symptoms and family history.
- And treatment usually includes the use of immunosuppressive drugs and physiotherapy.
The main symptoms of polymyositis are related to muscle inflammation and are:
Some people with polymyositis may have damage to the esophagus or lungs, resulting in difficulty swallowing and breathing, respectively.
Inflammation usually occurs on both sides of the body and, if left untreated, can cause muscle atrophy. Therefore, when identifying one of the symptoms, it is important to see your doctor so that the diagnosis can be made and treatment initiated.
Like polymyositis, dermatomyositis is also an inflammatory myopathy, a chronic degenerative disease characterized by inflammation of the muscles. However, in addition to muscle damage, in dermatomyositis, there are skin lesions, such as red spots on the skin, especially on the joints of fingers and knees, as well as swelling and redness around the eyes. Learn more about dermatomyositis.
Diagnosis is based on a person’s family history and symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may order a muscle biopsy or test capable of evaluating muscle activity from the application of electrical currents, electromyography. Learn more about electromyography and when it’s needed.
In addition, biochemical tests capable of evaluating muscle function, such as myoglobin and creattinophosphokinase or CPK tests, for example, can be controlled. Understand how the CPK exam is performed.
Treatment of polymyositis aims to relieve symptoms, as this chronic degenerative disease is incurable. Therefore, your doctor may recommend the use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to relieve pain and decrease muscle inflammation, as well as immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate and cyclophosphamide, for example, to decrease the immune response. against one’s own body.
In addition, physiotherapy is recommended to recover movements and avoid muscle atrophy, as in polymyositis the muscles weaken making simple movements, such as placing the hand on the head, for example.
If there is also damage to the muscles of the esophagus, which causes difficulty swallowing, it may also be appropriate to consult a speech therapist.