Disorder Subdivisions

• Primary Idiopathic Polymyositis
• Childhood Polymyositis
• Polymyositis Associated with Malignant Tumors
• Polymyositis Associated with Sclerodermatomyositis
• Polymyositis Associated with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Overlap Syn)

General Discussion

Polymyositis is a systemic connective tissue disorder characterized by inflammatory and degenerative changes in the muscles, leading to symmetric weakness and some degree of muscle atrophy. The areas principally affected are the hip, shoulders, arms, pharynx and neck.

Resources

Myositis Association
1737 King Street
Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314
USA
Tel: (703)299-4850
Fax: (703)535-6752
Tel: (800)821-7356
Email: tma@myositis.org
Internet: http://www.myositis.org

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Ave.
East Detroit, MI 48021
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

Arthritis Foundation
P.O. Box 7669
Atlanta, GA 30357-0669
USA
Tel: (404)965-7627
Tel: (800)283-7800
Email: arthritisfoundation@arthritis.org
Internet: http://www.arthritis.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association
3300 East Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718-3208
USA
Tel: (520)529-2000
Fax: (520)529-5300
Tel: (800)572-1717
Email: mda@mdausa.org
Internet: http://www.mda.org/

Myositis Support Group
146 Newtown Road
Woolston
Southampton, Intl S019 9HR
United Kingdom
Tel: 023 8044 9708
Fax: 023 8039 6402
Email: msg@myositis.org.uk
Internet: http://www.myositis.org.uk

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Fax: (732)543-7285
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com

European Society for Immunodeficiencies
1-3 rue de Chantepoulet
Geneva, CH 1211
Switzerland
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +41 22 906 91 40
Email: esid@kenes.com
Internet: http://www.esid.org

AutoImmunity Community
Email: moderator@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://www.autoimmunitycommunity.org

Myositis Support Group at the Hospital for Special Surgery
2nd Floor Conference Center, Room A
535 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212)774-7623
Fax: (212)774-2333
Email: fischbeins@hss.edu
Internet: http://www.hss.edu/MyositisGroup.asp

Cure JM Foundation
826 Lynwood Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
USA
Tel: (760)487-1079
Fax: (760)230-2243
Email: info@curejm.com
Internet: http://www.curejm.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  10/12/2007
Copyright  1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.