Takeaway
People who died from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had presence of mild to severe myositis; skeletal muscle inflammation was more pronounced than cardiac inflammation and was associated with duration of COVID-19 illness, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 is associated with immune-mediated myopathy.
Why this matters
Many different viruses are associated with myopathy, but muscle biopsies are not often performed to confirm virus-associated myositis. This study provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is associated with immune-mediated myopathy, providing guidance for future treatment courses.