What Is Polymyositis?
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
6. Respiratory manifestations
Patients with polymyositis may experience breathing difficulties (i.e. shortness of breath or respiratory failure) if the chest wall muscles are compromised by the disease. As a result of the dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) caused by the disease, patients can develop a respiratory infection (pneumonia) as a result of accidentally breathing in food or liquids.
Finally, patients with polymyositis can develop interstitial lung disease. This is a chronic condition that causes scarring or fibrosis of the lung tissue, making it stiff and no longer elastic.
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