The spectrum of elderly myopathies in an Asian population
- Author:
Shereen Ng
;
Kum-Thong Wong
;
Khean-Jin Goh
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2013;18(2):177-181
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Myopathies, although presenting more commonly in the younger age group, can occur and contribute
signifi cantly to disability in the elderly. To describe the spectrum of elderly myopathies, we reviewed
52 elderly patients (> 65 years) from the University of Malaya Medical Centre muscle biopsy databank,
constituting 6.8% of 759 adult patients (> 18 years) who underwent muscle biopsy between 1992 and 2012.
Commonest were the infl ammatory myopathies (41/52, 78.8%), of which 43.9% had dermatomyositis;
23.9% polymyositis; 14.6% sporadic inclusion body myositis; 9.8% undifferentiated myositis and 2.4%
overlap myositis. Seven patients (13.4%) had genetic myopathy; 2 muscular dystrophy and 5 chronic
progressive external ophthalmoplegia, while 4 patients (7.7%) had drug-associated myopathy, 3 with
statins. Malignancies were seen in 9.8% of infl ammatory myopathies at diagnosis. Both acquired and
genetic myopathies are seen in elderly Malaysians of all ethnicities and should not be misdiagnosed
as some are potentially treatable and/or associated with malignancy.
- Full text:P020150706476176102909.pdf
