Recurrent myositis triggered by infections: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2008 Nov 14:2:344. doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-2-344.

Abstract

Introduction: Recurrent myositis triggered by infections is unusual, with only one other case reporting two attacks described in the literature.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian woman with recurrent myositis triggered by sore throat, respiratory and urinary tract infections, over the past 18 years, up to four times a year. Myositis of this frequency and duration, apparently triggered by infections, has not been reported previously.

Conclusion: We believe that this case adds to the understanding of myositis associated with infections being a triggered autoimmune response, and postulate that the pathogenesis in our patient is a non-specific immune response to a range of different precipitants, both bacterial and viral.