Overview
Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a rare condition that affects the muscles and the thin tissue (fascia) that surrounds them. It was first described in the late 1990s and is believed to be caused by the persistence of aluminum-containing adjuvants at the site of intramuscular vaccination, most commonly in the deltoid (shoulder) muscle. In people with MMF, the body's immune cells called macrophages accumulate at the injection site and contain tiny aluminum crystals, leading to a specific pattern of inflammation visible under a microscope. The main symptoms of MMF include widespread muscle and joint pain (myalgia and arthralgia), chronic fatigue, and muscle weakness. Many patients also experience cognitive difficulties such as problems with memory and concentration, sometimes described as brain fog. Some people develop a low-grade fever and general feelings of being unwell. The symptoms can be quite debilitating and may persist for months or years. There is currently no cure for macrophagic myofasciitis. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy are commonly used. Some patients may benefit from corticosteroids or other immunomodulatory treatments. Research is ongoing to better understand why some individuals develop this condition after vaccination while the vast majority do not, suggesting there may be an underlying predisposition in affected individuals related to how their bodies handle aluminum clearance.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Widespread muscle painJoint painChronic and disabling fatigueMuscle weaknessMemory problems and difficulty concentratingHeadachesLow-grade feverGeneral feeling of being unwellSleep disturbancesPain or tenderness at a previous vaccination siteDifficulty exercising or performing physical activitiesMood changes such as anxiety or depression
Clinical phenotype terms (6)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
9 eventsMayo Clinic — PHASE4
University Hospital, Limoges — PHASE4
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India — NA
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University — PHASE2, PHASE3
University Medical Center Groningen — PHASE4
The University of Hong Kong — NA
University Hospital, Angers — PHASE2, PHASE3
Rodolfo Alejandro — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Macrophagic myofasciitis.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Macrophagic myofasciitis at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Macrophagic myofasciitis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Macrophagic myofasciitis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Macrophagic myofasciitis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Study to Improve OS in 18 to 60 Year-old Patients, Comparing Daunorubicin Versus High Dose Idarubicin Induction Regimens, High Dose Versus Intermediate Dose Cytarabine Consolidation Regimens, and Standard Versus MMF Prophylaxis of GvHD in Allografted Patients in First CR
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: Prevention of de Novo Allosensitization in Islet Transplant Recipients Following Complete Graft Loss
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: Graves' Disease Remission Study: MycoMeth Combo
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: Evaluation of the Benefits of Administering Immunosuppressive Drugs as Single Daily Doses Over the First Year After Liver Transplantation (EASY)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: The Effect of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Cyclophosphamide on the Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients With Proliferative Lupus Nephritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: The Mycophenolate Pregnancy Registry
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: Optimizing GVHD Prophylaxis After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
New recruiting trial: Reduced Immunosuppression in Older Renal Transplant Recipients With Trugraf®/TRAC Monitoring (RIOT Trial): A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Trial.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Macrophagic myofasciitis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Is a deltoid muscle biopsy necessary to confirm my diagnosis, and what does the procedure involve?,What treatment options are available to manage my pain and fatigue?,Should I avoid future vaccinations that contain aluminum adjuvants?,Are there any clinical trials or new research studies I could participate in?,What type of physical therapy or exercise program would be safe and helpful for me?,Could my cognitive symptoms be related to this condition, and how can they be treated?,How often should I have follow-up appointments to monitor my condition?
Common questions about Macrophagic myofasciitis
What is Macrophagic myofasciitis?
Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a rare condition that affects the muscles and the thin tissue (fascia) that surrounds them. It was first described in the late 1990s and is believed to be caused by the persistence of aluminum-containing adjuvants at the site of intramuscular vaccination, most commonly in the deltoid (shoulder) muscle. In people with MMF, the body's immune cells called macrophages accumulate at the injection site and contain tiny aluminum crystals, leading to a specific pattern of inflammation visible under a microscope. The main symptoms of MMF include widespread muscle and
How is Macrophagic myofasciitis inherited?
Macrophagic myofasciitis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Macrophagic myofasciitis typically begin?
Typical onset of Macrophagic myofasciitis is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Which specialists treat Macrophagic myofasciitis?
22 specialists and care centers treating Macrophagic myofasciitis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.