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Signs and symptoms of polymyositis usually appear gradually, so it may be difficult to pinpoint when they first started. They may also fluctuate from week to week or month to month.

Progressive muscle weakness is the most common polymyositis symptom. It typically affects the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in your hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck. The weakness is symmetrical, affecting both the left and right sides of your body, and tends to gradually worsen.

Although the muscle weakness starts subtly, after it progresses over the course of the disease it can make it difficult for you to climb stairs, rise from a seated position, lift objects or reach overhead.

Other polymyositis signs and symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Difficulty speaking
• Mild joint or muscle tenderness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

Polymyositis is in a group of diseases or disorders of the muscles called inflammatory myopathies. The cause of most inflammatory myopathies is unknown.

Infections caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses can cause inflammatory myopathies, but in most cases of polymyositis, doctors aren't able to identify a preceding infection. Some doctors think certain people may have a genetic susceptibility to the disease.

Inflammatory myopathies share many characteristics with autoimmune disorders, in which your immune system attacks normal body components. Normally, your immune system works to protect your healthy cells from attacks by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. If you have polymyositis, an unknown cause may act as a trigger for your immune system to begin producing autoimmune antibodies (autoantibodies) that attack your body's own tissues.

Many people with polymyositis show a detectable level of autoantibodies in their blood.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

Possible complications of polymyositis include:

• Difficulty swallowing. If the muscles in your esophagus are affected, you may have problems swallowing (dysphagia), which in turn may cause weight loss and malnutrition.
• Aspiration and pneumonia. Difficulty swallowing may also lead to entrance of food or liquids, including saliva, into your lungs (aspiration), which can lead to pneumonia.
• Breathing problems. If your chest muscles are affected by the disease, you may experience breathing problems, such as shortness of breath or in severe cases, respiratory failure.
• Calcium deposits. Late in the disease, particularly if you've had the disease for a long time, deposits of calcium can occur in your muscles, skin and connective tissues (calcinosis).

Associated conditions
Although these are not complications, polymyositis is often associated with other conditions that may cause further complications of their own, or in combination with polymyositis symptoms. Associated conditions include:

• Raynaud's phenomenon. This is a condition in which your fingers, toes, cheeks, nose and ears turn pale when exposed to cold temperatures.
• Other connective tissue diseases. Other conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Sjogren's syndrome, can occur in combination with polymyositis.
• Cardiovascular disease. Polymyositis may cause the muscle of your heart to become inflamed (myocarditis). In a small number of people who have polymyositis, congestive heart failure and heart arrhythmias may develop.
• Lung disease. A condition called interstitial lung disease may occur with polymyositis. Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of disorders that cause scarring (fibrosis) of lung tissue, making lungs stiff and inelastic. Signs and symptoms include a dry cough and shortness of breath.

Concerns during pregnancy
Pregnancy may worsen signs and symptoms in women whose disease is active. Active polymyositis can also increase the risk of premature birth or stillbirth. If the disease is in remission, the risk isn't as great.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

What you can do
When you go in to see your doctor, be sure to have a record of your symptoms. Although it may be difficult to pinpoint when symptoms started, you may want to estimate when you first noticed weakness, and which muscles have been affected.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will ask you detailed questions about your symptoms and family history, as well as completing a thorough physical examination that includes different types of strength tests. If your doctor suspects polymyositis, more tests will be ordered.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

Diagnosis of polymyositis isn't always easy and can be a lengthy process. Even though the attempt to diagnose your condition may be frustrating, remember that an accurate diagnosis is necessary to receive appropriate treatment.

In addition to a thorough physical exam, your doctor will likely use other tests to confirm a diagnosis of polymyositis.

Imaging tests

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A scanner creates cross-sectional images of your muscles from data generated by a powerful magnetic field and radio waves.

  As MRI has become more sensitive, doctors have been using it more to diagnose inflammatory myopathies. MRI can detect active inflammation in your muscles, fibrosis and calcification. Its high sensitivity can detect subtle muscle inflammation and swelling early in the disease. A benefit of MRI is that it can look at large amounts of muscle to look for patterns or patches of muscle weakness, instead of taking a small sample from a single muscle, for example.

Muscle tests

• Electromyography. A doctor with specialized training inserts a thin needle electrode through the skin into the muscle to be tested. Electrical activity is measured as you relax or tighten the muscle, and changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease. The doctor can determine the distribution of the disease by testing different muscles.
• Muscle biopsy. A small piece of muscle tissue is removed surgically for laboratory analysis. A muscle biopsy may reveal abnormalities in your muscles, such as inflammation, damage or infection. The tissue sample can also be examined for the presence of abnormal proteins and checked for enzyme deficiencies. In polymyositis, a muscle biopsy typically shows inflammation, dead muscle cells (necrosis), and degeneration and regeneration of muscle fibers.

Blood tests

• Blood analysis. A blood test will let your doctor know if you have elevated levels of muscle enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK) and aldolase. Increased CK and aldolase levels can indicate muscle damage. A blood test can also detect specific autoantibodies associated with different symptoms of polymyositis, which can help in determining the best medication and treatment.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

Although there's no cure for polymyositis, treatment can improve your muscle strength and function. The earlier treatment is started in the course of polymyositis, the more effective it is, leading to fewer complications.

Drugs

• Corticosteroids. These medications suppress your immune system, limiting the production of antibodies and reducing muscle inflammation, as well as improving muscle strength and function. Corticosteroids, especially prednisone, are usually the first choice in treating inflammatory myopathies such as polymyositis.

  Your doctor may start with a very high dose, and then decrease it as your signs and symptoms improve. Improvement generally takes about two to four weeks, but therapy is often needed for years.

  Prolonged use of corticosteroids can have serious and wide-ranging side effects, so your doctor may recommend supplements to combat them, such as calcium and vitamin D, and may prescribe bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel) or zoledronic acid (Reclast). Bisphosphonates in pill form may not be recommended if you have difficulty swallowing.

• Corticosteroid-sparing agents. Your doctor may recommend other medications, either to decrease side effects or if your condition doesn't respond to corticosteroids. These medications include azathioprine (Imuran) or methotrexate (Rheumatrex). Your doctor may prescribe these alone or in combination with corticosteroids.

  When in combination, these additional immunosuppressants can be used to lessen the dose and potential side effects of the corticosteroid. Immunosuppressants, such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), may improve signs and symptoms of polymyositis and interstitial lung disease.

Antibody therapy

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Immunoglobulin contains healthy antibodies from blood donors. High doses can block the damaging antibodies that attack muscle in polymyositis.

Immunosuppressive therapies
In addition to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, other treatments to suppress your immune system include:

• Tacrolimus (Prograf). This transplant-rejection drug may work to inhibit the immune system. Tacrolimus is often used topically to treat dermatomyositis and other skin problems. When taken orally, it may be helpful in treating people who have polymyositis complicated by interstitial lung disease.

Investigational treatment

• Biological therapies. Rituximab (Rituxan) has been studied in small numbers of people with polymyositis and dermatomyositis and shown to improve muscle strength, lung involvement and skin rash. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors such as etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade) have not been shown to be effective in trials with small numbers of people with polymyositis or dermatomyositis. Rituximab is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of polymyositis, so your insurance company will likely require preapproval if you wish to be reimbursed.

Other treatment

• Physical therapy. A physical therapist can show you exercises to maintain and improve your strength and flexibility and advise an appropriate level of activity.
• Dietetic assessment. Later in polymyositis, chewing and swallowing can become more difficult. A registered dietitian can teach you how to prepare easy-to-eat foods.
• Speech therapy. If your swallowing muscles are weakened by polymyositis, speech therapy can help you learn how to compensate for those changes.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

• Get active. Maintaining an exercise routine can help you maintain and build your muscle strength. Just be sure that you get a detailed plan and recommendations from your doctor or physical therapist before starting an exercise program.
• Rest when you're tired. Don't wait until you're exhausted. This will only set you back further as your body tries to recuperate. Learning to pace yourself can help you maintain a consistent level of energy, accomplish just as much and feel better emotionally.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.

Living with a chronic autoimmune disease can make you wonder at times whether you're up to the challenge. To help you cope, try supplementing your medical care with the following suggestions:

• Know your illness. Read all you can about polymyositis and other muscle and autoimmune disorders. Talk to other people who have a similar condition. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor any questions that you may have concerning your illness, diagnosis or treatment plan.
• Be a part of your medical team. Consider yourself, your doctor and any other medical experts involved as a united front in the fight against your disease. Following the treatment plan you agreed to is vital. Keep your doctor updated on any new signs or symptoms you may experience.
• Know and assert your limits. Learn to say no effectively and ask for help when you need it.
• Acknowledge your emotions. Denial, anger and frustration are normal feelings when you must deal with an illness. Things don't seem normal or fair and likely seem out of your control. Feelings of fear and isolation are common, so stay close to your family and friends. Try to maintain your daily routine as best you can and don't neglect doing those things you enjoy. Many people find support groups to be a helpful resource.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.