What causes polymyositis and dermatomyositis?
• With polymyositis and dermatomyositis, the bodys immune system makes a malfunction with these diseases the immune system attacks healthy tissues. • What triggers this process is unknown. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are autoimmune diseases. This means that they begin with the immune system (which normally protects the body from germs, viruses, and bacteria) malfunctioning. It generates antibodies that attack healthy tissue in different parts of the body. The cause of polymyositis and dermatomyositis is unknown, though researchers suspect that environmental factors (such as viral infections) may play a role, as may genetic factors (meaning risk of getting the diseases may be inherited).
