16. oktober 2004 

Dr Maurice Murphy.

Consultant Immunologist St Bartholomew's Hosptial London.

The suffix -itis indicates a specific histological (macroscopic and
microscopic) or pathological diagnosis of inflammation (with
infiltration of particular inflammatory cells) as in myositis
(inflammation of muscles). There are many causes of this such as
infection, drugs etc. The suffix -pathy is more general and indicates a
pathological disorder or condition which may be quite heterogeneous but
with definite microscopic or histological changes depending on the exact
form. It may encompass inflammatory disorders but this is not usual. For
example myopathy is a term used to describe muscle pathology or disease
where there are histological/microscopic changes to muscle fibers.
However, there are many types, e.g hereditary or degenerative froms such
as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, metabolic disorders, loss of nerve
supply etc

Maurice Murphy