INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHY IN THYROTOXICOSIS

A 45-year-old man with a S-month history of episodic muscle weakness, MRC grade 4/5 symmetric hip flexor weakness, elevated CK, and an infla mmatory myopathy was found to have elevated free thyroxine and T3. Tre atment with carbimazole resulted in complete resolution of symptoms an d return of muscle power to normal. A repeat biopsy revealed resolutio n of the inflammatory endomysial infiltrate and an absence of necrosis . Complete clinical and pathologic resolution of a thyrotoxicosis-asso ciated inflammatory myopathy without steroid therapy has not been prev iously described. The favorable outcome experienced by this patient in dicates that steroids may not be necessary in thyrotoxicosis-associate d inflammatory myopathy.