Clinical spectrum of fascial inflammation

An overview of polymyositis and dermatomyositis

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are inflammatory myopathies that differ in their clinical features, histopathology, response to treatment, and prognosis. Although their clinical pictures differ, they both present with symmetrical, proximal muscle weakness. Treatment relies mainly upon empirical use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. A deeper understanding of the molecular pathways that drive pathogenesis, careful phenotyping, and accurate disease classification will aid clinical research and development of more efficacious treatments. In this review we address the current knowledge of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic evaluation, classification, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Myopathy with anti-Jo-1 antibodies: pathology in perimysium and neighbouring muscle fibres

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate muscle pathology and clinical characteristics in patients with a myopathy and serum antibodies to the Jo-1 antigen (histidyl t-RNA synthetase).

BACKGROUND

Anti-Jo-1 antibodies occur in syndromes that may include muscle weakness and pain, Raynaud's phenomenon, interstitial lung disease, arthritis, and a skin rash different from that seen in dermatomyositis. The muscle pathology is not well defined.

METHODS

Case series. Review of charts, muscle biopsies, and laboratory records. Features of myopathology in 11 patients with anti-Jo-1 antibody associated myopathies were compared with other types of inflammatory myopathies.

RESULTS

Myopathology in patients with anti-Jo-1 antibodies consistently included fragmentation of, and macrophage predominant inflammation in, perimysial connective tissue. Perifascicular myopathic changes, including atrophy, regenerating muscle fibres, and some muscle fibre necrosis, were most common in regions near the connective tissue pathology and were most prominent in patients with more severe weakness. Unlike many other inflammatory myopathies, inflammation in endomysial and perivascular regions was uncommon. By contrast with dermatomyositis, capillary density was normal.

CONCLUSIONS

Myopathological changes in the anti-Jo-1 antibody syndrome include perimysial connective tissue fragmentation and inflammation, with muscle fibre pathology in neighbouring perifascicular regions. Myositis with anti-Jo-1 antibodies may result from an immune mediated disorder of connective tissue.

Histopathologic features of the L-tryptophan-related eosinophilia-myalgia (fasciitis) syndrome

Study of 18 biopsy specimens in 11 patients with L-tryptophan-related eosinophiliamyalgia (fasciitis) syndrome showed hyaline sclerodermoid changes. Dermal scleroderma was found in eight of nine punch biopsy specimens and eight of nine excisional biopsy specimens. Fascial scleroderma was found in eight excisional biopsy specimens. One specimen obtained by excision had no fascia present. Eleven biopsy specimens showed edema of the dermis, and 13 showed dilated lymphatic structures; thus, the clinical picture of edematous sclerosis was confirmed. Mucinous fasciitis was present in five excisional biopsy specimens, in conjunction with a large number of macrophages in four. Dermal mucinosis was present in 11 biopsy specimens. Lymphocytic and macrophage inflammation was minimal in 14 biopsy specimens and pronounced in only 4. Plasma cells were present in eight cases. Eosinophils were present in substantial numbers in three biopsy specimens and only occasionally in four. Eosinophilic spongiosis was observed in one patient. Lymphocytic inflammation was noted around a single muscle spindle and around large nerve trunks in three patients. No relationship was established between these pathologic features and the duration or dose of tryptophan, prednisone treatment, or duration of symptoms. Pathologic features of the L-tryptophan syndrome consist of hyaline sclerodermoid collagen in the dermis, the septa, and the fascia. Edema, focal mucinosis, and macrophage inflammation may be features that identify this event.

[Fasciitis in granulomatous myositis--an atypical manifestation of sarcoidosis?]

We report about two female patients with a histopathological proven granulomatous myositis associated with a fasciitis. One patient showed noncaseating granulomas in the muscle fascia. She suffered from symmetrical contractures of the digital flexors and ankles. The second patient showed uveitis and polyneuropathy, too. In addition, increased activities of the angiotensin-converting-enzyme and lysozyme in the sera suggested that both cases represent a new form of sarcoidosis.

Eosinophilic fasciitis

The fascia had received little attention until Shulman's delineation of EF. Evidence is now accumulating that in addition to EF and scleroderma, significant fascial inflammation may be seen in polymyositis, dermatomyositis, eosinophilic polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and mixed connective tissue disease. It is still unclear whether EF represents a variant of scleroderma; however, it is becoming increasingly recognized that scleroderma shares many features in common with EF including eosinophilia, hypergammaglobulinemia, positive ANA and rheumatoid factor, and an association with hematologic disease. The rarity of Raynaud's phenomenon and significant visceral changes help distinguish EF from systemic scleroderma. In this regard, however, EF more closely resembles the localized scleroderma syndromes, especially morphea profunda and pansclerotic morphea. Biopsy in EF, systemic scleroderma, and localized scleroderma will show comparable changes, the essential difference being the levels at which they occur.

Myositis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi: report of four cases

Myositis was proven histopathologically in 4 patients (age range 36-66 years) who suffered from early or late stages of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Muscle weakness was present in 3 patients, 1 complaining of additional myalgias. One man came to medical attention because of skin discoloration and swelling of one leg. Deep biopsy from skin, fascia and muscle revealed acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, panniculitis, fasciitis, and myositis, respectively. Creatine kinase was slightly elevated in 3 cases and normal in one. Infiltrates were found in the perimysium and within the muscle bundles, mainly around small vessels. The infiltrates consisted of many B cells and T4 lymphocytes with fewer cytotoxic T cells, suggesting that Borrelia myositis might be due to a local immune response to unknown Borrelia antigens. Cultivation of Borrelia from muscle was not successful. Antibiotic therapy cured the myositis.

Eosinophilic fasciitis in a pair of siblings

Two siblings, a 38-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, developed eosinophilic fasciitis within a period of 6 months. They were found to have identical HLA-A, B, DR, and DQ antigens, raising the possibility of a genetic influence in the development of this disease. No common environmental factors close to the time of onset were identified; however, the possibility of a common, remote environmental factor cannot be discounted.

Classification of myositis. Correlations between morphological and clinical classifications of inflammatory muscle disease

Insufficient clinical data given to pathologists often hamper the differentiation of inflammatory muscle diseases. Thus we proved the value of a classification based only upon morphological criteria. Among 160 biopsies with myositic pattern (4.9% of a series of 3264 muscle biopsies) we could distinguish the following groups: Interstitial inflammation with only few fibre necroses (17.6%), predominance of fibre necroses with few inflammatory infiltrates (38.1%), small vessel vasculitis (20.0%), arteritis (13.1%), granulomatous myositis (8.8%) and polymorphonuclear leukocytic infiltrates (2.6%). This classification is compared with the used clinical diagnoses. Some special morphological aspects (histometric and immunocytologic examinations, tissue calcification, inclusion bodies, neurogenic atrophies) are analysed and so are some clinical peculiarities (e.g. malignoma-association, differentiation of mixed connective tissue syndrome, drug-induced reactions). The diagnostic value of purely morphologic criteria is restricted. For better diagnostic work a great number of clinical informations is required. Nevertheless, certain morphological patterns give important directions, e.g. to occult malignoma.

Pathologic changes in muscle in primary fibromyalgia syndrome

Primary fibromyalgia syndrome, also inappropriately called "fibrositis," is a clinically recognizable nonarticular rheumatic condition with diffuse and chronic musculoskeletal aching and stiffness, accompanied by exaggerated tenderness at characteristic sites on physical examination. Results of muscle biopsy from 12 well-defined cases of primary fibromyalgia syndrome without any history of trauma have been published recently. Light microscopic examination revealed no evidence of inflammation. Histochemical analysis demonstrated type II fiber atrophy in seven patients and the "moth-eaten" appearance of type I fibers in five patients. Electron microscopic findings were most impressive, and included myofibrillar lysis with deposition of glycogen and abnormal mitochondria, as well as subsarcolemmal accumulation of glycogen and mitochondria in all 12 patients and papillary projections of sarcolemmal membrane in 11 patients. Mechanisms of these significant muscle changes in primary fibromyalgia syndrome are uncertain but may include subclinical injury of muscle spasm.

Inflammatory myopathies: Part 1

The inflammatory myopathies have diverse clinical and pathological features and multiple etiologies. Some are confined to a single muscle or group of muscles (e.g., orbital myositis and localized nodular myositis) while others are diffuse. Infective forms may be due to viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal, or parasitic organisms. Viruses may cause acute self-limited forms of myositis and have been isolated from muscle in some cases of acute rhabdomyolysis and inclusion body myositis. They have also been implicated in some cases of congenital myopathy and in polymyositis and dermatomyositis, but there is no evidence of viral invasion of muscle in these conditions. In polymyositis and dermatomyositis there are derangements in humoral and cellular immune function, and recent evidence suggests an underlying disturbance of immunoregulation. The roles of genetic factors, drugs, and Toxoplasma infection have been under scrutiny. There is increasing recognition of immunological and pathological differences in polymyositis and juvenile and adult dermatomyositis, and in cases with associated connective tissue diseases, suggesting different underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. Inclusion body myositis, eosinophilic myositis, and granulomatous myositis can be separated from the other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies because of distinctive clinical and pathological features and this may also reflect different mechanisms of muscle injury. Recent developments in the treatment of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies include the use of plasmapheresis and total-body irradiation in cases that are resistant to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs.