Polymyositis: response to vitamin E

A 70-year-old woman with polymyositis was treated with three different immunosuppressive drugs. Her condition deteriorated over a three-month period until she became totally helpness. She then made a dramatic improvement when large doses of vitamin E (d, alpha-tocopheryl acetate) were administered. Current knowledge regarding the nature of polymyositis and the rationale for using vitamin E to treat it are discussed.