Autoimmune myopathies are a group of diseases that involve inflammation of the muscles and may be associated with diseases of internal organs. Diseases affecting muscles include polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The main symptom is muscle weakness in the upper arms, upper legs and neck, muscle pain, fatigue, joint pain and swelling, rashes over the face and knuckles, fevers, swallowing difficulty and shortness of breath.
Myopathies occur two to three times more frequently in women than men.
Severity of disease varies from a mild form with almost no symptoms to a severe, life-threatening disease. Other diseases or conditions such as hypothyroidism, toxin exposure, drug reactions and genetic disorders may also affect muscles and need to be ruled out. These complex diseases can involve many body organs and, while not curable, many of the symptoms can be treated effectively with patient education, physical and occupational therapy, and medications. Researchers play a critical role in both basic science and clinical investigation of the disease. Rheumatologists educate other physicians about the disease and its treatment.