Myopathy

Myopathies are disorders of the skeletal muscles which cause a variety of types of muscle weakness or muscle function problems. Myopathies can be inherited (genetic), or acquired, and result in abnormal muscle cell structure and metabolism.

Acquired myopathies
Acquired myopathies usually begin suddenly and later in life, rather than in childhood. They are often acute (brief) rather than long-term conditions.

Inherited myopathies can be caused by:
 * Inflammation
 * infection (for example, the Epstein-Barr virus),
 * toxins (alcohol, toluene, or a reaction to certain medications including statins, steroids or antivirals), and
 * systemic diseases (for example, thyroid diseases or Systematic Lupus Erythemastosus).

Inherited myopathies
Symptoms of inherited myopathies usually begin in childhood, and have a long duration. The types of inherited myopathies are:
 * Muscular dystrophies
 * Congenital myopathies
 * Mitochondria myopathies
 * Metabolic myopathies

Learn more

 * Myopathy - Cleveland Clinic