title: Impact of aging on the clinical features and treatment of polymyositis in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this long-term retrospective study was to compare the clinical features of elderly and younger polymyositis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical records of 21 polymyositis patients hospitalized from 1988 to 2011 were reviewed to compare the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of the elderly group (N = 6; ≥ 70 years) and the younger group (N = 15; < 70 years). Correlation analysis was conducted between serum creatine kinase levels (roughly estimate of disease state) and the clinical features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aging did not affect the clinical characteristics, except for lower body weight, lactate dehydrogenase level, and creatine kinase level in the elderly group (p = 0.011, 0.003, and 0.012, respectively). Creatine kinase levels were negatively correlated with the age at diagnosis. The optimum dose and frequency of pulse steroid therapy were significantly lower in elderly patients (p = 0.018 and 0.043, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In polymyositis patients, aging is associated with a decrease in creatine kinase level, due in part to decreased body weight or muscle mass. This may influence the choice of therapy, such as steroid dosage and the use of immunosuppressants.
authors: a Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology , Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima , Japan.
authors: Shuzo
authors: S
authors: Sato
authors: Makiko
authors: M
authors: Yashiro
authors: Tomoyuki
authors: T
authors: Asano
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Watanabe
authors: Hiromasa
authors: H
authors: Ohira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Clinical features; Creatine kinase; Elderly; Polymyositis