[Coxsackie virus infection associated with myositis and polyarthritis].

Abstract

A wide spectrum of muscle disorders caused by Coxsackie B virus, ranging from acute nonspecific myalgia to rhabdomyolisis have been described. Arthritis in not widely recognised as an either manifestation of Coxsackie virus infection, and only ten patients has been reported previously. A case of polymyositis and polyarthritis associated with primary Coxsackie B infection in a 6-year-old girl is reported. Seroconversion of IgM and IgG antibodies for Coxsackie virus B was observed coinciding with the clinical features: fever, herpangine, polyarthritis, erythematous macular rash, myalgia and muscle weakness with high levels of aldolase and creatine kinase. Electromyographic changes of myositis were found. However, histopathologically biopsied muscle demonstrated a slight inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltrate without necrosis or regeneration of muscle fibres. Polyarthritis and full muscle strength was recovered 8 and 32 weeks after the onset, respectively.