Symptomatic muscle involvement in neurosarcoidosis: a clinicopathological study of 5 cases

Abstract

We report on the clinical course and histopathologic muscle alterations of five patients diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis, who underwent biopsy due to their muscle manifestations. The five patients were females and only one was less than 40 years of age. Proximal muscle weakness was presented by all and only two patients complained of myalgia. Only normal values of serum muscle enzymes were detected. Electromyography revealed diverse findings such as normal, myopathic and neuropathic patterns. Granuloma was not present in one muscle biopsy. Two patients thoroughly recovered by taking only prednisone and one patient required a methotrexate addition for 3 months before becoming asymptomatic. The other two patients received azathioprine, one due to steroid side effects but without a satisfactory evolution, and the other to strengthen the prednisone régime, with excellent results.