Patients may also feel fatigue and discomfort and have weight loss or a low-grade fever. Treatment for polymyositis generally consists of a steroid drug called prednisone. For patients in whom prednisone is not effective, immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and methotrexate may be prescribed. Physical therapy is usually recommended to preserve muscle function and avoid muscle atrophy. The prognosis for polymyositis varies.
Some cases respond to therapy.
The disease is usually more severe and resistant to therapy in patients with cardiac or pulmonary problems. Death is rare but may occur in patients with severe and progressive muscle weakness, dysphagia, malnutrition, pneumonia, or respiratory failure. The goals of these studies are to conduct therapeutic trials to increase the understanding of the disorders and, ultimately, to find ways to prevent and cure them. National Institutes of Health Bldg. This fact sheet is in the public domain.