Inclusion body myositis

Myositis is a rare disease that comes in multiple forms and is one of the inflammatory muscle myopathies. As with other inflammatory myopathies, myositis is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which inflammatory cells surround, invade, and destroy muscle fibers resulting in muscle weakness or rash. Inclusion body myositis or myopathy is similar to other myopathies in that gradual muscle weakness is evident in both proximal and distal muscles with atrophy of the forearms and legs evident. Unlike other myopathies, inclusion body myopathy is not usually identified until after age 50 and occurs more frequently in men than women. Inclusion body myopathy gets its name from the presence of rimmed vacuoles evident in laboratory analysis. About 10% of the cases of inclusion body myopathies are hereditary (Myositis Association of America, 1999). When genetic transmission has been indicated, the transmission was most often autosomal dominant with male to male transmission.


 


Posted

in

by

Tags: