Muscle Biopsy Findings Research Articles

Neuromuscular Diseases of Infancy and Childhood.

In the past two decades research and clinical interest in neuromuscular disorders in childhood has brought forth an enormous volume of literature. During the same period very few books have been written which provide broad overview of the subject. The text by Swaiman and Wright, therefore, is timely in its attempt to provide current, useful and detailed knowledge and to present the clinician a logical approach to differential diagnosis. At the outset, the authors stress the principle that lesions producing neuromuscular disorders can be located at various sites within the motor unit or its suprasegmental control. Traditional neurological principles helpful in differentiating lesions at various levels are emphasized, and assessment of neuromuscular function during infancy is described. Next, chapter on laboratory tests describes those procedures which have proved valuable. The various serum enzyme determinations, muscle biopsy findings and electrodiagnostic techniques are presented in fashion easily understood,

Interstitial lung disease associated with polymyositis:response to cyclophosphamide and prednisolone combination treatment.

Polymyositis (PM) is a inflammatory connective tissue disease involving predominantly skeletal muscles, characterized by symmetrical, proximal muscle weakness, inflammation, and frequently, degeneration. Interstitial lung disease in association with PM occurs in 5~10% of cases and carries an especially grave prognosis. Although the cause of lung involvement in PM is not known, the underlying pathologic process in the lung is an immune mediated inflammation of alveolar structures, alveolitis. It is of interest, therefore, that cyclophosphamide, an immune modulating agent, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of PM. We report a case of corticosteroid resistant PM associated with interstitial lung disease, successfully treated with cyclophosphamide. A 37-year-old female was presented with 8 months duration of cough, exertional dyspnea, and muscle weakness. She had typical symptoms, physical findings, and elevated muscle enzyme levels in serum with characteristic findings of muscle biopsy. She also had typical interstitial lung disease pattern on chest X-ray and high resolution CT with restrictive pattern on pulmonary function test. The findings of transbronchial lung biopsy was compatible with interstitial lung disease. She failed to respond to corticosteroid initially. Subsequently steroids and cyclophosphamide were given with excellent clinical improvement.

Rheumatic activity as judged by the presence of Aschoff bodies in auricular appendages of patients with mitral stenosis. II. Clinical aspects.

Clinical data have been correlated with heart muscle biopsy findings in 183 patients undergoing operation for mitral stenosis. It was not possible to relate the finding of Aschoff lesions to the usual clinical or laboratory evidences of rheumatic carditis, although older patients and those exhibiting auricular fibrillation were least likely to be histologically "active." The possible significance of these findings is discussed.