Polymyositis is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterised by inflammatory myopathy of the skeletal muscles predominantly affecting the proximal muscles and associated with extra-muscular manifestations like dysphagia and skin involvement. In this case report, we describe the occurrence of diaphragmatic weakness and respiratory failure due to polymyositis with relatively well preserved power in limb muscles.
Dalakas MC. Retrovirus and inflammatory myopathies in humans and primates. Baillieres Clin Neurol 1993;2:659-91.
Nishikai M, Ohya K, Kosaka M, Akiya K, Tojo T. Anti-Jo-1 antibodies in polymyositis or dermatomyositis: evaluation by ELISA using recombinant fusion protein Jo-1 AS antigen. Br Rheumatol 1998;37:357-61.
Engel AG, Arahata K. Monoclonal antibody analysis of mononuclear cells in myopathies. II: phenotypes of autoinvasive cells in polymyositis and inclusion body myositis. Ann Neurol 1984;16:209-15.
Engel AG, Arahata K, Emslie-Smith A. Immune effector mechanisms in inflammatory myopathies. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 1990;68:141-57.
Oddis CV, Conte CG, Steen VD. Incidence of polymyositis-dermatomyositis: a 20-year study of hospital diagnosed cases in Allegheny County, PA 1963–1982. J Rheumatol 1990;17:1329-34.
Mastaglia FL, Phillips BA. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: epidemiology, classification, and diagnostic criteria. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2002;28:723-41.
Oddis CV. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: management and prognosis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2002;28:979-1001.
Sultan SM, Ioannou Y, Moss K, Isenberg DA. Outcome in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis: morbidity and mortality. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2002;41:22-6.