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Polymyositis MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
Polymyositis
Tree Number(s)
C05.651.594.819
C10.668.491.562.575
Unique ID
D017285
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D017285
Scope Note
Diseases characterized by inflammation involving multiple muscles. This may occur as an acute or chronic condition associated with medication toxicity (DRUG TOXICITY); CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES; infections; malignant NEOPLASMS; and other disorders. The term polymyositis is frequently used to refer to a specific clinical entity characterized by subacute or slowly progressing symmetrical weakness primarily affecting the proximal limb and trunk muscles. The illness may occur at any age, but is most frequent in the fourth to sixth decade of life. Weakness of pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, interstitial lung disease, and inflammation of the myocardium may also occur. Muscle biopsy reveals widespread destruction of segments of muscle fibers and an inflammatory cellular response. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1404-9)
Entry Term(s)
Myositis, Multiple
Polymyositis Ossificans
Polymyositis, Idiopathic
Previous Indexing
Myositis (1966-1992)
Public MeSH Note
93
History Note
93
Date Established
1993/01/01
Date of Entry
1992/05/22
Revision Date
2013/07/09
Polymyositis Preferred
Polymyositis Ossificans Narrower
Polymyositis, Idiopathic Narrower
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