Polymyositis-Like Syndrome in Hypothyroidism: Review of Cases Reported Over the Past Twenty-Five Years

Polymyositis-like syndrome, with proximal muscle weakness and elevation of muscle enzymes, may be a clinical manifestation of hypothyroidism. To define the clinical, biochemical, electromyographic, and pathologic characteristics of patients with this syndrome, we identified and reviewed by MEDLINE all cases reported in the English literature from January 1, 1975 through December 31, 2000. Thirty-two cases were considered. Fifty-nine percent of the patients were male with a mean age of 54.7 ± 22.6 years, (± 1 standard deviation [SD]). Weakness was described in 100% of patients. Other common clinical manifestations were: delayed tendon reflexes with slow relaxation phase (41%), muscle tenderness (25%), and muscle induration (9%). The mean creatine kinase (CK) was 2164 ± 1954 U/L (± 1 SD) and the mean thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was 114.8 ± 85.6 mIU/L (± 1 SD). Fifty percent of patients had electromyography; half of the studies were normal while the other half showed nonspecific myopathic changes. Biopsies were performed in 80% of the patients. The most common findings were type II fiber atrophy, type I fiber hypertrophy, central nuclei disposition, necrosis, increased percentage of type I fibers, and decreased percentage of type II fibers, inflammatory infiltrate and the presence of core-like structures. The characteristics of polymyositis-like syndrome in hypothyroidism did not differ from those of nonspecific hypothyroid myopathy. Clinical judgment alone may not be sufficient to suspect and detect these patients. Serum TSH levels should be routinely determined in all patients with muscle weakness or elevation of creatine kinase.