Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is an emerging condition of unknown cause, detected in patients with diffuse joint muscle pains and fatigue. It was first identified in 1993. Seventeen additional cases have been evaluated through 1997 in several French centers for the study and treatment of muscle disorders.
Macrophagic myofasciitis is named for the findings seen in tissue from muscle biopsies. Microscopic examination has shown an abnormal infiltrate of specialized immune cells called macrophages surrounding muscle tissue. Macrophages are a type of immune cell that is important for swallowing and destroying microorganisms.
They also assist other immune cells in the body's response to invading organisms. The muscle cells involved in patients with this disease appear to be minimally damaged by the macrophages.
Muscle pain is the most frequent symptom.
This can be localized to the limbs or be more diffuse. Other symptoms include joint pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, fever, and muscle tenderness.
Electron microscopy was performed in 40 consecutive cases and chemical analysis was done by microanalysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Inclusions were constantly detected and corresponded to aluminum hydroxide, a compound frequently used as a vaccine adjuvant to stimulate the immune system.
History analysis revealed that 50 out of 50 patients had received vaccines 3-96 months before biopsy: hepatitis B virus (86%), hepatitis A virus (19%) or tetanus toxoid (58%).
Brain, Vol. 124, No. 9, 1821-1831, September 2001
As time goes on we will find ever more increasing diseases that had not been identified despite fairly extensive investigations into known infectious and immune disorders.
The above study published in a well respected peer review journal appears to have nailed yet another one of these diseases.
I would be curious to see these evaluations done on the far more common fibromyalgia.
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