Description
Myositis is a less common disease that causes muscle inflammation and weakness. It can be caused by an injury, infection, autoimmune disease, certain medications, or illegal drugs. Evaluating this can help guide the appropriate treatment and monitoring,
Symptoms of myositis include:
- Muscle weakness, especially in the muscles near the trunk
- Skin rash
- Fatigue after standing or walking
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position
- Muscle pain that doesn't go away within a few weeks
There are several types of myositis, including:
- Polymyositis: Usually causes muscle weakness in the muscles closest to the trunk
- Dermatomyositis: Causes muscle weakness and a skin rash
- Overlap myositis: Myositis that overlaps with other autoimmune diseases
This panel includes the following test:
Aldolase
Creatine Kinase (CPK)
Fasting not required.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
A Creatine Kinase (CPK) test is used to detect muscle damage, and in the context of myositis, a significantly elevated CPK level indicates muscle inflammation caused by this autoimmune disease, allowing doctors to diagnose and monitor the severity of the condition by measuring the amount of muscle damage present.
Aldolase is an enzyme that helps diagnose and monitor myositis, a condition that causes muscle inflammation. Aldolase levels in the blood can indicate muscle damage and help determine the cause of muscle weakness.
