MYOSITIS OSSIFICANS PROGRESSIVA<subtitle>Report of a Case Treated with Corticotropin (ACTH)</subtitle>

Abstract

MYOSITIS ossificans progressiva is a rare disease characterized by the formation of areas of calcification in the interstitial connective tissue of muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and aponeuroses. Although manifestations of the disease may not begin until after 10 years of age, certain associated congenital anomalies are ordinarily present at birth, especially microdactyly of the thumbs and big toes. There may be exacerbations and remissions of the disease, but the general course is an insidious loss of body motion, affecting especially the neck, spine, and upper extremities and, rarely, the hips and lower extremities. The masseters are sometimes so severely involved that chewing becomes difficult. The heart, diaphragm, tongue, larynx, and sphincters are spared. The following patient is a rather typical example of this interesting and dramatic clinical picture who was given corticotropin (ACTH) with probably slight improvement. The progressively immobilizing features in this child were, however, irreversible, and no known