Idiopathic eosinophilic myositis: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Eosinophilic myositis belong to the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and are defined by an inflammatory infiltrate composed of eosinophils within the muscle. To date, no consensus exists for diagnosis and care of such patients. The aim of this review was to describe clinical and histological presentation, treatment, and outcome of eosinophilic myositis based on a systematic review of all published histologically proven cases of eosinophilic myositis. A total of 453 records were identified in MEDLINE until November 2020. A total of 69 published cases were identified. The analysis of these allowed the distinction of the 3 previously described pathological subtypes: focal eosinophilic myositis (n = 17); diffuse eosinophilic myositis (n = 36); and eosinophilic perimyositis (n = 16). We propose a simple algorithm for diagnosis and treatment strategy for the care of patient with muscular symptoms and blood eosinophilia. This work also highlights eosinophilic myositis pathogenesis and the need for careful investigations in order to rule out differential diagnoses.

Keywords: Eosinophil; Eosinophilia; Muscle disease; Myositis.