Inclusion body myositis is a degenerative disease that causes muscle inflammation and weakness, which can be hereditary or sporadic. There is no cure, but physical therapy can help relieve symptoms and slow progression. The cause is unknown, but researchers believe it may be an abnormal immune system response to a retrovirus. Diagnosis is done through physical exams, MRI scans, and muscle biopsy. Treatment involves physical therapy and reducing the risk of falls.
Inclusion body myositis is a degenerative disease that causes inflammation and weakening of muscle tissue. The disorder can be hereditary or sporadic, which means it can be passed on genetically and present early in life, or appear unexpectedly in individuals over the age of 50. Muscle fibers tend to deteriorate over months to years and often lead to difficulty standing, walking, grasping objects, and swallowing. There is no cure or reliable medical treatment for inclusion body myositis, but regular physical therapy sessions can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of muscle problems.
The causes of inclusion body myositis are not well understood, but medical researchers believe that the disorder may be the result of an abnormal immune system response to a retrovirus. Research suggests that inflammation and weakness are primarily caused by irregular T cells, specialized white blood cells that are essential for fighting viruses. In a person with inclusion body myositis, T cells are cloned in large numbers and mistakenly attack healthy muscle fibers.
An individual with inclusion body myositis usually experiences progressive muscle weakness in many parts of the body, especially the hands, forearms, legs, and throat. Weakened muscles can make it difficult to grip objects with your fingers and control your legs when walking. When the disorder affects the throat and face, people have difficulty swallowing food and speaking clearly. As the condition worsens, many people are unable to move without the aid of a walker or wheelchair. Muscle weakness is often accompanied by constant dull aches and occasional sharp pains.
Doctors usually diagnose the condition by doing physical exams, taking magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the muscles, and extracting samples of muscle tissue for laboratory analysis. A doctor will look for signs of inflammation and degeneration in MRI and muscle biopsy results. Clinical laboratory specialists count the number of T cells in tissue samples to rule out other causes of muscle problems.
There is no known cure for inclusion body myositis, and doctors generally cannot treat the condition with medications or hormone therapy. Most patients diagnosed with the disorder are scheduled for rehabilitation physical therapy sessions with professional trainers. Physical therapists can help people strengthen leg and arm muscles through customized exercise and weight-lifting routines. In addition, educators teach patients how to reduce the risks of falls and other accidents by equipping them with walkers or by suggesting that they enter assisted living facilities.
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