Polymyositis (cont.)
What are symptoms of polymyositis?
Weakness of muscles is the most common symptom of
polymyositis. The muscles involved usually are those that are closest to the
trunk of the body. The onset can be gradual or rapid. This results in
varying degrees of loss of muscle power and atrophy. The loss of strength can be noticed as difficulty getting up from chairs, climbing stairs or lifting above the shoulders. Trouble with swallowing and weakness lifting the head from the pillow can occur. Occasionally, the muscles ache and are tender to the touch (25% of patients).
Patients can also feel fatigue, a general feeling of
discomfort and have weight loss and/or low-grade fever.
With skin involvement (dermatomyositis), the eyes can
be surrounded by a violet discoloration with swelling. There can be scaly
reddish discoloration over the knuckles, elbows, and knees (Gottron's sign).
There can also be reddish rash on the face, neck, and upper chest.
Hard lumps of calcium deposits can develop in the fatty layer of the skin,
most commonly in childhood dermatomyositis.
Heart and lung involvement can lead to irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, and shortness of breath.
Because polymyositis can present in combination with other
illnesses (see related articles on systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis), it can also have overlap features with them. These illnesses are discussed elsewhere.
Both polymyositis and dermatomyositis can sometimes be
associated with cancers, including lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer. The cancer risk is reported to be much greater with dermatomyositis than polymyositis.
Next: How does the doctor diagnose polymyositis? »
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