https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1562

Polymyositis following varicella and mumps infection in adults: report of two cases

Vol. 75 No. 4 (2023)
Submitted: 4 February 2023
Accepted: 21 August 2023
Published: 19 December 2023
Polymyositis, varicella, mumps, viruses, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab
Abstract Views: 864
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Authors

F. Masini
masini.fr@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4184-2808
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
K. Gjeloshi
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Albania.
E. Pinotti
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
R. Ferrara
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3681-1369
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
C. Romano
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5807-6601
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
G. Cuomo
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4292-3589
Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.

Idiopathic immune myopathies (IIMs) are autoimmune diseases caused by immune-mediated muscle damage. The etiology remains unclear. Epidemiological and experimental studies, both in animals and humans, hint at viruses as major environmental factors able to trigger aberrant immune responses through many different mechanisms. However, only a few cases of either dermatomyositis or polymyositis following a specific viral infection have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical features and the treatment strategy of 2 cases of polymyositis developing shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, and to review the existing literature on the topic. The clinical records of the 2 patients suspected to have developed inflammatory myositis following a viral infection were reviewed. Their clinical history, main laboratory findings, and treatment outcome are presented here. Moreover, a literature search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases to identify reports describing the association between viral infections and IIMs in patients aged ≥18. The 2 patients reported here developed polymyositis shortly after chickenpox and mumps, respectively, suggesting a causal role for viruses in triggering autoimmunity. Only a few reports published between 1990 and 2020 were found in the literature, possibly linking infections to myositis development. Intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab were effective for the treatment of viral-triggered polymyositis.

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How to Cite

Masini, F., Gjeloshi, K., Pinotti, E., Ferrara, R., Romano, C., & Cuomo, G. (2023). Polymyositis following varicella and mumps infection in adults: report of two cases. Reumatismo, 75(4). https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2023.1562
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