EMG is often used as a diagnostic tool for ANIM A patient's history is one of the key factors in diagnosing<unk> . The history is used not only to analyze the time frame with which the patient began to express symptoms, but to also see if the disease is within the patient's family's history, to check medication or drug use history, and to see if the patient has suffered any trauma due to illness or infection. Basic exams will test for where the muscle weakness is and how weak it is. This is performed by testing for proximal and distal muscle strength, as well as testing for any signs of neurogenic symptoms such as impaired sensation, deep tendon reflexes, and atrophy. If needed, more advanced equipment can be used to help determine whether a patient is suffering from ANIM. This includes: * Measurement of serum levels of muscle enzymes * Electromyography (EMG) * Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) * Muscle biopsy When examining the serum levels of muscle enzymes, the relative levels of creatine kinase, aldolase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase are closely examined. Abnormal levels of these proteins are indicative of both inflammatory<unk>  and ANIM. EMGs are particularly useful in locating the affected muscle groups, as well as determining the distribution of the<unk>  throughout the cell. EMGs measure several indicators of<unk> es such as: * The spontaneous electrical movement from a single muscle fiber at rest, * Measurement of a polyphasic, shorter amplitude, motor unit action potential during muscle stimulation, * Determining that the muscle group cannot differentiate large motor plate stimulation from small motor plate stimulation involved in recruitment of muscle fibers. Magnetic Resonance Imaging will elicit edema in inflammatory patients, but it will most likely show nothing in patients with ANIM and if it does, it will show some atrophy. If an individual's ANIM is a result of a metabolite defect, then additional tests are required. These tests are directed at enzyme function at rest and during exercise, and enzyme intermediates. Molecular genetic testing is often used to determine if there was any predisposition to the expressed symptoms.
Acquired non-inflammatory myopathy
Inflammatory myopathy
Metabolic myopathy
Nemaline myopathy
Centronuclear myopathy
Inclusion body myositis
Hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy
Dermatopolymyositis