Muscle Disease - Polymyositis

• Disease Name: Polymyositis
  
• Common Name: This is a very rare disease, there is no common name.
  
• Age of Onset: Can happen at any time in life but mainly preys on people over the age of 40. The cause is unknown but may be related to autoimmune factors, genetics, and viruses.
  
• Duration: There is no known cure, but there are many treatments that can lessen the disease's effects.
  
• Common in...: The disease is more common in women and blacks.
• Causes: As stated before, the exact cause is unknown. It is considered an inflammatory myopathy which are sometimes caused by infectious viruses. Myopathies are classified with cancer as they spread from a point. The body mistakes healthy cells for foreign bodies and begins to attack them. This triggers reproduction of the diseased cells and the inflamed cells spread.
  
• Symptoms: Symptoms include progressive muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, muscle tenderness, and fatigue. The muscles of the trunk are affected the most. The skin of the fingers and palms become thicker also.
  
• Prognosis: The disease is first felt in fatigue and weakness. These symptoms get worse as the diseased muscle cells invade more of the organ. Eventually the above symptoms occur. The disease can go on to affect the cardiac, lung, joint, and gastrointestinal systems. The 5 year mortality rate is 20% mainly for heart failure. If you have this disease, it is important to start treatment early.
  
• Treatment Options: Corticosteroids - this suppresses the immune system and the cells become less inflamed. The doctor will start with a high dose and decrease dosage as the symptoms become less severe. Physical Therapy - This improves muscle fitness and flexibility. This does not cure the disease but it will help on the road to recovery. Plasmapheresis - this is when you do a blood transfusion to take out the harmful autoimmune cells. Radiation - radiation to the lymph notes can help by decreasing the number of immune cells produced. There are many more experimental treatments out there.
  
• Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyositis/DS00334, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymyositis, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/756355-overview, http://www.medicinenet.com/polymyositis/article.htm