Inclusion Body Myositis: A case report on navigating diagnostic challenges

Abstract

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a rare progressive myopathy affecting individuals older than 50 years. It is associated with significant morbidity by restricting the patient's mobility and it has a relatively low mortality risk with respiratory muscles involvement. Muscle biopsy is the gold standard method for diagnosis. We report a 72-year-old female patient who was admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2023 with progressive weakness of lower limbs. Various diagnostic tests were performed and the patient was subsequently diagnosed with IBM. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, immunoglobulins, rituximab and prednisolone; this resulted in moderate clinical improvement. This case highlights the intricate nature of the diagnostic journey, as diagnosing IBM remains a challenge in clinical practice, requiring a high degree of suspicion and precise application of available diagnostic tools with the guidance of a collaborative multidisciplinary approach in investigating and providing patient care. This case report contributes valuable insights to the understanding of this complex myopathy, facilitating more accurate diagnosis and enhancing patient care strategies.