title: Steroid-responsive subacute polymyositis in an adult following respiratory syncytial virus infection.
abstract: The role of viral infections in the aetiopathogenesis of polymyositis remains speculative. We report a case of profound subacute polymyositis with incipient ventilatory failure following serologically confirmed infection by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with a dramatic and sustained response to pulse corticosteroid therapy. We suggest a possible autoimmune mechanism to account for this sequence of events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Poole Hospital, Dorset, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khanifar
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wulff
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Snook
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids