Dr. Payne’s Team Saves Employee. Read more and watch the video

Phoenix Neurological Associates, LTD was just named one of seven international centers of Excellence for Guillan Barre and CIDP. Read more

BITE NITE 2010
Our first fundraiser took place on June 5, 2010 at Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. PNA Center for Neurological Research teamed up with the ALS Association Arizona Chapter to co-host a night dedicated to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). BITE NITE consisted of 5 top Valley Restaurants, 5th and Wine, Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila, Oregano's Pizza Bistro and Va Bene who served up samplers of their best dishes, with great entertainment by our favorite local band Dearspeak, with silent and live auctions. The night was an absolute blast and a success. People enjoyed great food while enjoying each other’s company for a night that was dedicated to funding ALS research. Thank you for everyone who truly made this night a success. Due to the positive praise and feedback, BITE NITE will be an annual event, so if you weren’t able to attend, we look forward to seeing you there next year! Thanks again for your support, dedication and contributions, we couldn’t have made this night possible without you.

Check out photos from BITE NITE here.

Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)

IBM Symptoms | Causes of IBM | IBM Treatment | IBM Cure | IBM Research

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory muscle disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness that affects both proximal (closest to the center of the body) and distal (farthest from the center of the body) muscles. It is a very slow progressive disease that typically is seen more in men after 50 years of age.

IBM Symptoms

Most commonly the disease begins in the quadriceps muscles. This will cause difficulty getting up out of a chair or climbing stairs. It can also affect muscle of the hand early on, and this will lead to difficulty gripping things or opening jars. As the disease progresses it will cause weakness in all muscle groups. Late in the course of the disease, one possible symptom is difficulty swallowing. IBM generally does not cause pain; however, with weakness and immobility there can often be secondary pain.

IBM Cause

Vacuoles within muscle fiber

There are multiple causes for muscle weakness and therefore the diagnosis of IBM is often delayed by some period of time.  Patients with IBM will usually be suspected when they have slowly progressive muscle weakness associated with elevated levels of muscles enzymes seen on blood tests. These tests can be either an elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) or an elevated aldolase. In addition EMG/ Nerve Conduction Studies will reveal evidence for a muscle disease. The specific diagnosis, however, cannot be made without a muscle biopsy. This is very important because IBM can look like polymyositis or even adult onset muscular dystrophies. Therefore all patients should have a muscle biopsy. Unfortunately at present there is no known cause for this disease.

IBM Treatment

There is no known effective therapy for IBM. The primary issue in terms of caring for patients with IBM is to try to manage their weakness. This may mean getting some assistive devices to help with doing things with their hands or providing walkers or scooters if walking becomes difficult.

IBM Cure

As there is no known cause for Inclusion Body Myositis, there is at present no effective cures or treatments for this disease.  There is extensive research into IBM and it is hopeful that within a few years we will have some therapy for this disease.

IBM Research

Related publications by our physicians:

• Pilot trial of etanercept in the treatment of inclusion-body myositis.