Macrophagic myofasciitis
A lesion with aluminium salts at vaccination sites.
Last updated
Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a histopathological finding of inflammatory macrophage formations containing aluminium crystal inclusions at a vaccination injection site. It is uncertain whether the associated systemic syndrome of muscle pain or weakness represents a distinct biological condition linked to the local lesion. Most diagnoses have been reported in France, where over 600 cases have been identified among an immunized population exceeding 64 million.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Histopathology
Facts from the source article.
The lesion
Muscle biopsy in individuals with MMF syndrome typically shows sheets of macrophage infiltration that stain positive with periodic acid–Schiff stain. Aluminum has been detected in these samples using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. A proposed mechanism involves macrophages ingesting aluminum, which causes lysosome rupture and cell death, followed by a new macrophage ingesting the dead cell and its aluminum content, perpetuating the cycle.
Did You Know?
- Patients with MMF syndrome may have elevated creatine kinase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
- Symptoms originally described for MMF syndrome include myalgia, arthralgia, marked asthenia, muscle weakness, and fever.
- A myopathic electromyograph is often observed in affected patients.
More in Muscular Disorders
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Macrophagic myofasciitis (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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