What is myositis?

Myositis is a general description for chronic, progressive inflammation of the muscles. Some types of myositis are associated with skin rashes.

这种罕见的疾病难以诊断，其原因有时是未知的。随着时间的推移，症状可能会迅速或逐渐呈现。主要症状可能包括肌肉疼痛和酸痛，疲劳，吞咽困难，呼吸困难。

在美国，每年估计有1,600至3,200件新案例，50,000至75,000人，患有肌炎。

肌炎可以影响儿童和成年人。除了一种类型的肌炎，女性更可能受到这种疾病的影响而不是男性。

The five types of myositis are:

  1. Dermatomyositis.
  2. inclusion-body myositis
  3. 少年肌炎
  4. 多核肌炎
  5. 毒性肌炎

Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis（DM）是最简单的肌炎，由于紫红色皮疹的形状Heliotrope花。The rash develops on the eyelids, face, chest, neck, and back. It also develops over joints such as knuckles, elbows, knees and toes. Muscle weakness normally follows.

Other symptoms of DM include:

  • 鳞片状，干燥或粗糙的皮肤
  • Gottron的丘疹或Gottron的标志（在指关节，肘部和膝盖上发现的凹凸，往往带着凸起的，鳞片状的突破）
  • 从坐姿上升的麻烦
  • 疲劳
  • weakness in the neck, hip, back, and shoulder muscles
  • difficulty swallowing
  • hoarseness in the voice
  • 皮肤下硬化钙的钙
  • 肌肉疼痛
  • joint inflammation
  • 甲床异常
  • weight loss
  • irregular heartbeat
  • 胃肠溃疡

了解有关Dermatomyositis的更多信息»

Inclusion-body myositis

包含-body肌炎（IBM）是唯一一个在男性中发生的肌炎而不是女性。发展这种情况的大多数人超过50岁。IBM始于手腕和手指的肌肉弱点，也在大腿肌肉中。肌肉弱点在较小的肌肉中更突出，并且是不对称的，身体的一侧受影响超过另一侧。IBM被认为是遗传。

Symptoms of IBM include:

  • difficulty walking
  • tripping and loss of balance
  • 频繁的瀑布
  • 从坐姿上升的麻烦
  • weakened hand grip and diminished hand and finger dexterity
  • difficulty swallowing
  • 肌肉无力
  • 肌肉疼痛
  • 减少深肌腱反射

少年肌炎

少年肌炎(JM) occurs in children under18.。它会影响3,000到5,000.美国孩子。女孩的可能性是发展JM的可能性是男孩的两倍。类似于其他形式的肌炎，JM的特征在于肌肉弱点和皮疹。

JM的症状包括：

  • visible, reddish-purple rash over the eyelids or joints, sometimes in the shape of the heliotrope flower
  • 疲劳
  • 情绪或烦躁
  • 肚子疼
  • motor function difficulties, such as trouble climbing stairs, standing from a seated position, and getting dressed
  • difficulty reaching overhead, as when shampooing or combing hair
  • trouble lifting the head
  • 指甲周围的皮肤肿胀或发红
  • 吞咽困难
  • 皮肤下硬化钙的钙
  • 肌肉无力
  • 肌肉和关节疼痛
  • 嘶哑的声音
  • Gottron’s papules (bumps found over the knuckles, elbows, and knees)
  • fever

Polymyositis

Polymyositis (PM) begins with muscle weakness in the muscles closest to the trunk of the body and then expands from there. Each case of PM is unique, and people with PM are often found to have additional autoimmune diseases.

PM的症状包括：

  • 肌肉无力
  • 肌肉疼痛
  • difficulty swallowing
  • falling
  • 从坐姿上升的麻烦
  • 疲劳
  • 慢性干咳
  • thickening of the skin on the hands
  • 呼吸困难
  • fever
  • weight loss
  • 沙哑的声音

毒性肌炎

毒性肌炎is thought to be caused by some prescribed medications and illicit drugs. Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins may be among the most common drugs to cause this condition. Although this is extremely rare, other medications and substances that may cause myositis include:

  • certain immunosuppressants
  • Omeprazole（prilosec）
  • Adalimumab（Humira）
  • cocaine
  • 甲苯（用于涂料稀释剂的溶剂，有时是非法使用的）

毒性肌炎的症状与其他类型的肌炎类似。经历这种情况的人通常会看到一旦他们阻止导致毒性的药物就会改善。

Experts differ in their opinions as to the exact cause of myositis. Myositis is thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack the muscles. Most cases don’t have a known cause. However, it’s thought that injury and infection may play a role.

Someresearchers相信肌炎也可能是由：

People with myositis are often given a misdiagnosis. It can be difficult to diagnose myositis since it’s rare, and also because the primary symptoms are muscle weakness and fatigue. These symptoms are found in many other common diseases.

医生可以使用以下任何一种援助诊断：

没有治疗肌炎的特定药物。然而，通常规定诸如泼尼松（Rayos）的皮质类固醇。医生经常用免疫抑制药物如氮杂唑（紫荆南）和甲氨蝶呤（Trexall）规定这种药物。

由于这种疾病的性质，您的治疗可能需要几次变化，为医生找到正确的治疗计划。与医生合作，直到实现最佳行动方案。

Physical therapy, exercise, stretching, and yoga can help keep muscles strong and flexible and prevent muscle atrophy.

肌炎没有治愈。有些患有肌炎的人可能需要使用甘蔗，助行器或轮椅。如果没有治疗，肌炎可能会导致发病率甚至死亡。

However, some people are able to manage their symptoms well. Some may even experience partial or complete remission.