Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Polymyositis

Polymyositis is an uncommon inflammatory disease that leads to muscle weakness in both sides of the body. If individuals have this condition, they may have trouble getting out of chairs, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, or lifting objects. The most commonly affected age groups are adults between thirty and fifty-nine years old. Polymyositis develops more commonly in black individuals than in white individuals, and women are more likely to be affected than men. The symptoms tend to develop on a gradual basis over weeks or months. While the condition doesn't have a cure, treatment can help with muscle functioning and strength. Individuals should always see a doctor if they have unexplained muscle weakness. Polymyositis typically causes weakness in the hips, neck, upper arms, shoulders, and thighs.

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Scleroderma

Polymyositis shares many symptoms with autoimmune diseases. An individual's risk of developing the condition becomes higher if they have scleroderma, a connective tissue autoimmune disease. The most visible way this disease manifests is through hardening of the skin. In the past, scleroderma has been called a progressive disease, though in recent years, researchers have discovered the condition isn't always progressive. Some patients experience a progression in their symptoms, while others have fairly stagnant symptoms.

Scleroderma is a chronic condition with multiple potential complications, polymyositis being just one of them. Some individuals experience only mild symptoms, while others have more serious issues. Around 300,000 individuals in the United States have scleroderma, though it's possible more cases are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. About one-third of known cases involve systemic scleroderma, which affects multiple systems throughout the body and can be progressive. Children are more likely to have localized scleroderma, which is confined to one part of the body. About four times as many women have scleroderma as men.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another autoimmune disorder that can increase an individual's risk of developing polymyositis. This disorder causes chronic inflammation in the joints and other parts of the body. It's best known for causing joint pain and progressive joint damage over time. There are more than a hundred types of arthritis, but not all of them are caused by the immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the lining of an individual's joints to become damaged and swollen because their immune system mistakenly attacks it. As time goes on, this swelling can lead to deformities in the joints and bone erosion. Since there's chronic inflammation, other systems throughout the body can also sustain damage. In the early stages, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the smaller joints, like those attaching the fingers and toes to the body. As the symptoms progress, larger joints throughout the body can become affected. If individuals develop polymyositis, this can add to the potentially damaging inflammation in the body. It can also be difficult to diagnose polymyositis, since many of its symptoms can be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis.

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