Sporadic Inclusion
Body Myositis
Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is the most common acquired myopathy in patients over the age of 50. It is unlike all other forms of myositis in terms of symptoms, treatment, and who it affects. More men have inclusion body myositis than women, and the disease is rarely seen in people younger than 50 years of age. Symptoms of inclusion body myositis progress more slowly than the other types of myositis with weakness increasing gradually, sometimes over years. For this reason it is not uncommon for patients to realize that they had been experiencing symptoms for many years before they were diagnosed.
Unlike other forms of myositis, IBM is approximately two times more common in men than in women.
Risk Group
People all over the world can suffer from inclusion body myositis. Men are at least two times more likely to suffer from inclusion body myositis than women. The disease is rarely seen in people younger than 50.
Symptoms
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Frequent falls
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Difficulty walking
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Trouble climbing stairs or standing from a seated position
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A foot that seems to drop when walking, causing tripping
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Weakened hand grip and difficulty flexing the fingers
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Difficulty writing, manipulating keys, and other daily activities
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Weakness and noticeable shrinking of the quadriceps (main muscle of the thighs)
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Weakness in the forearm muscles
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Pain or discomfort as muscles weaken
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Difficulty swallowing
Diagnostic Tests
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Your doctor will ask for a complete medical history and will perform a thorough physical examination.
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Certain blood tests will be ordered and a muscle biopsy should be performed. The muscle biopsy is a minor procedure. A local anesthetic is applied and a small piece of muscle is removed – usually from a thigh muscle or shoulder muscle.
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The biopsy is one of the critical diagnostic tests to determine whether you suffer from inclusion body myositis.
Treatment
If you have inclusion body myositis, your doctor may prescribe medications that suppress the immune system, such as corticosteroids. Unfortunately, however, many patients with inclusion body myositis do not respond as well to these medications as do patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
Exercise and physical therapy are important parts of standard myositis treatment plans. Physical exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce fatigue, increase stamina, and build muscle, even in patients with myositis. Indeed, exercise is currently the only treatment recommendation for patients with inclusion body myositis.
There is a strong association between aerobic capacity and general health, both in healthy individuals and those with myositis. Regular physical activity and exercise can improve one’s quality of life and reduce the risk of serious chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. These are all complications of myositis diseases or their treatment, so exercise is doubly important.
Copyright © 2018 Johns Hopkins Myositis Center