Understanding COVID-19 and Myositis: Key Insights into Muscle Inflammation and Pain
Researcher analyzing virus sample. Image by DCStudio on Freepik
In a Current Rheumatology Reports 23 report, authors Ahmad Saud, R Naveen, Rohit Aggarwal & Latika Gupta, all well-known experts in myositis, discuss recent findings about the relationship between COVID-19 and myositis.
While the issue of limited access to care was partially addressed with the broad implementation of telehealth practices, specialists in myositis remained uncertain of how their patients with chronic myositis would be affected by the virus. As doctors gained a better understanding of COVID-19, it became recognized that COVID causes both inflammation and the production of autoantibodies. It was also discovered that it has an effect on the musculoskeletal system, and can cause creatinine kinase (CK) levels to rise, one of the key signs of disease activity in myositis.
There have been some reports of myositis being caused as a result of COVID-19. Muscle weakness and pain are increasingly being reported as a symptom in many COVID-19 patients, muscle pain even becoming the most commonly reported COVID-19 symptom. COVID patients who had developed myositis experienced muscle weakness, back pain, and rashes, typical of dermatomyositis. When MRIs were done to examine the back pain, evidence of muscle disease was found.
One of the biggest changes to come out of the pandemic has been the access to care through telemedicine and virtual consultations. People with all forms of myositis are engaging in telemedicine consultations, and surveys have shown remote monitoring is preferred over in-person visits by up to 70% of people with myositis. This is likely due to the persistent fears of acquiring the virus in public spaces.
Source: Saud, A., Naveen, R., Aggarwal, R. et al. COVID-19 and Myositis: What We Know So Far. Curr Rheumatol Rep 23, 63 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-021-01023-9
