Macrophagic myofasciitis and vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

macrophagic myofasciitis (mmF) character - ized by specific muscle lesions assessing long-term per - sistence of aluminum hydroxide within macrophages at the site of previous immunization has been reported with increasing frequency in the past 10 years. We describe clin- ical and laboratory findings in patients with mmF. We did a retrospective analysis of 16 cases observed in our neuropa- thology Laboratory, between January 2000 and July 2013. the mean age of the 16 patients was 48.8 ± 18.0 years; 80.0 % were female. Chronic fatigue syndrome was found in 8 of 16 patients. half of the patients had elevated cre- atinine kinase levels, and 25.0 % had a myopathic electro- myogram. thirteen patients received intramuscular admin- istration of aluminum-containing vaccine prior to the onset of symptoms. mmF may mirror a distinctive pattern of an inflammatory myopathy. the vaccines containing this adju- vant may trigger mmF in some patients.