11. Myositis Flashcards
What are the two main forms of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM)?
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
(also: Inclusion body myositis, cancer-related myositis, collagen vascular disease-related myositis)
Myositis: what is the primary problem?
muscle weakness
IIM: define.
(pattern of onset? fixed v dynamic weakness? prox or distal muscles)
Slowly progressive, FIXED muscle weakness of proximal muscles
(Fixed meaning that the muscles are weak all the time)
IIM: what is the main lab finding?
Is there associated pain?
Puts you at increased risk for what?
Main lab finding: elevated CPK
Pain: not the primary feature, but there are post-exertional aches, cramps
Increased risk for malignancy
When I diagnose Myositis, what other diseases do I need to keep a lookout for?
Pulmonary involvement, malignancies
Polymyositis: Criteria? (5)
- Symmetrical weakness of limb-girdle muscles and anterior neck flexors
- Muscle biopsy evidence of necrosis of Type I and II fibers, phagocytosis, regeneration, variation in fiber type with inflammatory exudation.
- Elevation in serum or skeletal-muscle enzymes.
- Electromyographic triad of short, small, polyphasia motor units, fibrillations and sharp waves; and bizarre, repetitive discharges.
- Dermatologic features.
Bottom line: Muscle weakness with add’l findings on histology, labs, EMG, and skin
Both myopathies and neuropathies have muscle weakness. What is the pattern for each that allows us to distinguish them?
Myopathies:
Proximal, symmetric
Neuro Exam normal
Neuropathies:
Proximal, distal or asymmetric
Other findings on neuro exam
What is the most commonly measured enzyme when myopathy is suspected?
What else can be elevated?
CPK is most commonly ordered.
Aldolase, AST, ALT, LDH can also be elevated
Beyond a myopathy, what else can cause elevated CPK?
What is the most frequent reason for checking CPK?
MI, racial differences, trauma, exercise, drugs, genetic disorders, large muscle mass can elevate CPK.
Acute MI is most frequent reason to check.
What is a ‘normal’ CPK level?
What level should cause concern?
Normal: up to 200
If CPK is over 1000, be concerned. This is not likely due to one of the benign reasons for elevated CPK
CPK: good lab to follow to assess disease progression or treatment?
NO, it can be normal in pts with a myopathy, and it does not correlated with disease activity.
What can an EMG/nerve conduction study help me determine?
- Can differentiate between myopathic and neuropathic disorders. **most impt**
- can help localize the affected area
- can identify a good site to biopsy
How can MRI help me diagnose and treat myopathy?
can see increased fluid in muscle tissue, which indicates inflammation. tells us where to biopsy for diseased tissue.
MRI of the thigh. What’s going on in the top, middle, bottom pics? Where should I biopsy?
Top: normal.
Middle: areas of increased lightness = inflammation. Note patchiness. Biopsy these areas.
Bottom: different window that suppresses fat signal, brings out muscle tissue.
Polymyositis: what kinds of cells will you see on biopsy of the muscle tissue?
What will the pattern of inflammation be?
Will see cytotoxic CD8+ T cells invading muscle fibers.
DIFFUSE pattern. primarily invading muscle fibers rather than blood vessels.
This is a histo pic of normal muscle, just for reference
Ok.
Muscle histo of what disease process? what is notable?
This would stain + for what type of lymphocytes?
Polymyositis.
Note muscle atrophy, damage, inf cells
Would stain + for CD8+ T lymphs
What disease process?
Polymyositis
Polymyositis: process of making the diagnosis?
-Rule out confounders (neurologic disease, muscular dystrophies, etc.)
Check for elevated muscle enzymes.
-Perform EMG and imaging (MRI).
-Muscle biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Dermatomyositis: definition?
Polymyositis plus rash!
Which is more likely to be associated with malignancy: polymyositis or dermatomyositis?
dermatomyositis.