Parasitic myositis by Echinococcus alveolaris. Report of a family with myotonia congenita.
Echinococcus alveolaris infections were found in 5 members of a family and at least 3 of them also suffered from myotonia congenita. A muslce biopsy, performed in 1 case because of a pathological EMG finding allowed a diagnosis of parastic myositis caused by E. alveolaris to be made. In a further case, X-rays demonstrated calcification of an Echinococcus cyst in the thigh. Since is it only on rare occasions that these parasites are found in muscle tissue, factors are then discussed which might in some way be responsible for this high rate of E. alveolaris lesions in the muscles of patients with myotonia congenita.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000469:parasitology; D009220:Myositis / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D009224:Myotonia Congenita / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology