Polymyositis

Diseases characterized by inflammation involving multiple muscles. This may occur as an acute or chronic condition associated with medication toxicity (DRUG TOXICITY); CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES; infections; malignant NEOPLASMS; and other disorders. The term polymyositis is frequently used to refer to a specific clinical entity characterized by subacute or slowly progressing symmetrical weakness primarily affecting the proximal limb and trunk muscles. The illness may occur at any age, but is most frequent in the fourth to sixth decade of life. Weakness of pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, interstitial lung disease, and inflammation of the myocardium may also occur. Muscle biopsy reveals widespread destruction of segments of muscle fibers and an inflammatory cellular response. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1404-9)

Year introduced: 1993

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Tree Number(s): C05.651.594.819, C10.668.491.562.575

MeSH Unique ID: D017285

Entry Terms:

• Polymyositides
• Myositis, Multiple
• Multiple Myositis
• Myositides, Multiple
• Polymyositis Ossificans
• Ossificans, Polymyositis
• Polymyositis, Idiopathic
• Idiopathic Polymyositides
• Idiopathic Polymyositis
• Polymyositides, Idiopathic

Previous Indexing:

• Myositis (1966-1992)

All MeSH Categories
Diseases Category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Muscular Diseases
Myositis
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis

All MeSH Categories
Diseases Category
Nervous System Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Muscular Diseases
Myositis
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis