Myositis Clinic

What is myositis?

Myositis (my-o-SY-tis) is a rare type of autoimmune disease that inflames and weakens muscle fibers. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's own immune system attacks itself. In the case of myositis, the immune system attacks healthy muscle tissue, which results in inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventual weakness. When there is no skin involvement, it is called polymyositis. When there is skin involvement, it is called dermatomyositis.

The areas of the body affected by myositis may differ from patient to patient. Most often, myositis involves the muscles in the upper arms and thighs, which can cause difficulty raising arms above the head and rising from a chair. Some people may also experience symptoms in their lungs, such as difficulty breathing, while others may have difficulty swallowing. Women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed as men, with most patients between ages of 30 and 60 when first diagnosed. In patients younger than 20 years old, the disease is referred to as juvenile myositis and may be treated differently.

Over time, myositis symptoms may continue to worsen until everyday tasks, like climbing stairs or carrying groceries, become difficult. These symptoms develop gradually and though there is no cure, treatments are available to retain muscle strength and function. It is important to work with your rheumatologist to delay myositis complications as long as possible.

Our Services

Inflammatory Myopathies are rare, chronic autoimmune conditions that result in inflammation in the muscles, skin, joints and other internal organs. Myositis is a common word that lumps many of these conditions together, but a thorough evaluation and an individualized approach is necessary to understand and treat these conditions. Here at Columbia University Myositis Specialty Clinic we are focused on providing an individualized approach to every patient, from the initial evaluation and throughout the treatment and monitoring stages of follow-up care.

Our Team