Therapy with corticosteroids can result in a myopathy.
Risk factors:
(1) high doses of corticosteroids
(2) fluorinated corticosteroids
(3) past history of corticosteroid-associated myopathy
General features of corticosteroid myopathy:
(1) muscle weakness
(2) myalgias
(3) slow recovery after discontinuation of inciting corticosteroid
Myopathy may be seen with acute or chronic steroid therapy.
Acute steroid myopathy may be associated with:
(1) generalized muscle weakness
(2) generalized muscle fiber atrophy and/or muscle necrosis
(3) rhabdomyolysis
(4) marked elevation of serum CK concentration
Chronic steroid myopathy may be associated with:
(1) proximal muscle weakness
(2) muscle atrophy
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic, Pharmacology, clinical