A group of autoimmune conditions causing inflammation and weakness of the muscles, where early diagnosis and treatment help preserve strength
Inflammatory myopathies, sometimes called myositis, are autoimmune conditions in which the immune system causes inflammation of the muscles, leading to weakness. They include dermatomyositis and polymyositis, among others. Because muscle weakness can have many causes, careful assessment is needed to reach the diagnosis and begin the right treatment.
Written for patients and reviewed by Dr Liubov Borukhson, Consultant Rheumatologist (GMC 7021928).
The hallmark is muscle weakness, usually developing over weeks to months. Features may include:
Diagnosis brings together your symptoms, an examination, blood tests including muscle enzymes and particular antibodies, and further investigations such as scans or muscle studies. Because several conditions can cause muscle weakness, a thorough assessment is important to confirm the diagnosis.
Where the joints are involved, ultrasound can help assess inflammation. Dr Borukhson uses point-of-care ultrasound during the consultation. You can read more on the ultrasound clinic page.
Treatment aims to calm the immune-driven inflammation, restore and protect muscle strength, and manage any other affected areas. It is tailored to the individual and reviewed over time, often alongside physiotherapy to support recovery of strength. The plan is agreed with you.
Inflammatory muscle disease can involve more than the muscles alone, so care sometimes needs input from more than one specialty. Dr Borukhson practises within a world-renowned tertiary centre, with ready access to consultant colleagues across the other specialties that may be involved in caring for this condition. Where appropriate, she can involve those specialists directly, and bring particularly complex cases to a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) with minimal delay. This means that, when more than one area of expertise is needed, your care can be joined up and decisions reached promptly.
Recognising and treating inflammatory muscle disease early helps preserve strength and function. If you have developing muscle weakness that affects everyday movements, particularly climbing stairs or rising from a chair, a specialist review is worthwhile.
A specialist assessment can establish the cause of muscle weakness and, where inflammation is involved, start the right treatment early
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