W. bancrofti as a causal agent of polymyositis.

ABSTRACT

A case of polymyositis associated with Bancroftian filariasis in an adult male who presented with generalised painful swelling and weakness of muscles is presented. He had elevated muscle enzymes, a myopathic EMG pattern, focal vasculitis on gastrocnemius muscle biopsy and W. bancrofti in the peripheral blood. There was clinical, biochemical and histopathological evidence of resolution of the disorder and total clearance of microfilaremia with diethyl carbamazine (DEC) therapy.