Myositis

What it means

A general term for inflammation of the muscles without respect to the underlying cause.

Many such conditions are considered likely to be caused by autoimmune conditions, rather than directly due to infection, although autoimmune conditions can be activated or exacerbated by infections. It is also a documented side effect of the lipid-lowering drugs such as statins and fibrates. Elevation of creatine kinase in blood is indicative of myositis.

In everyday care

Most people with this sign do not have a rare disease — it appears in common conditions far more often. These general reference pages cover the same topic:

Rare diseases that can present with this31

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category