DERMATOMYOSITIS POLYMYOSITIS

Dermatomyositis, polymyositis and inclusion body myositis are all rare inflammatory immunogenic muscle diseases. Dermatomyositis usually man ifests in an acute form, polymyositis subacutely, and inclusion body m yositis as a chronic condition. They share the cardinal clinical sympt oms progressive paresis and atrophy. Muscle pain is not obligatory and is observed most often in acute stages. Technical diagnosis includes biochemical analysis, electromyography, magnetic resonance imaging ii necessary and, finally, muscle biopsy. Dermatomyositis and polymyositi s are predominantly treated with glucocorticoids and azathioprine. As yet there is no known effective treatment for inclusion body myositis. Differential diagnosis for myalgia covers a wide spectrum. Inflammato ry muscle disease should always be suspected in cases of mesenchymal m uscle pain in combination with paresis. However, there are also pain-f ree forms of myositis.