Complications of polymyositis

Complications of polymyositis may include the following:

• Interstitial lung disease
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Heart block
• Arrhythmias
• Congestive heart failure
• Pericarditis
• Dysphagia
• Malabsorption
• Pneumonia
• Infection
• Myocardial infarction
• Carcinoma - Especially in the breast and lung
• Steroid myopathy or other complications of steroid therapy

Incidence of lung, bladder, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma may be increased in patients with polymyositis, especially in the first year after diagnosis.
Five-year survival rates have been estimated at more than 80%. Mortality is most often related to associated malignancy or pulmonary complications; however, elderly patients with cardiac involvement or dysphagia also have a higher mortality rate.
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