Authors

Marinos C Dalakas MD

Neuroimmunology, Department of Pathophysiology

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece

Athens, GREECE

Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Contributor Disclosures

Dr. Dalakas of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School in Greece and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received honorariums from Baxalta (Shire), Novartis, Pfizer, CSL, and Octapharma for consulting, serving on advisory committees, and speaking engagements.

Neuromuscular Disorders

Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is characterized by muscle weakness and skin rash on the face, knuckles, elbows, knees, chest and back. It can also cause dysphagia, cardiac or pulmonary abnormalities, and subcutaneous calcium deposits. It is an inflammatory myopathy.

May. 03, 2021
Neuromuscular Disorders

Polymyositis, necrotizing autoimmune myositis, myofasciitis, and overlap-myositis

Patients with polymyositis commonly present with a myopathy characterized by proximal and often symmetric muscle weakness manifested as difficulty performing tasks requiring the use of proximal muscles. Polymyositis has no unique clinical features, and its diagnosis is one of exclusion. Most patients described as having polymyositis actually have another disease—either inclusion body myositis, necrotizing autoimmune myositis, or antisynthetase syndrome.

May. 03, 2021
Neuromuscular Disorders

Inclusion-body myositis

Inclusion-body myositis causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, typically beginning with the quadriceps and foot extensors, causing frequent falls. Hand and facial weakness and dysphagia may be involved early in other patients. It is an autoimmune, inflammatory myopathy.

May. 03, 2021
Neuroimmunology

GAD antibody-spectrum disorders

Oct. 19, 2020

Marinos C Dalakas MD

Contributor Disclosures

Related Articles

Dermatomyositis

Polymyositis, necrotizing autoimmune myositis, myofasciitis, and overlap-myositis

Inclusion-body myositis

GAD antibody-spectrum disorders