Regular Article
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies – myositis

https://doi.org/10.1053/berh.2002.0261Get rights and content

Abstract

The inflammatory myopathies – myositis – encompass a heterogeneous group of chronic muscle disorders of unknown origin and with varying prognoses. New clinical phenotypes of myositis have been identified since the most widely used classification criteria were proposed in 1975. Based on clinical and histopathological features, inclusion body myositis was identified. Furthermore, the myositis-specific autoantibodies may also identify different clinical phenotypes and serve as prognostic markers. The different classifications and inclusion criteria that have been used in different studies make some epidemiological data uncertain. In order to improve our knowledge of causative factors, as well as of pathogenic mechanisms, there is a need for revision and also for an international acceptance of the classification criteria. During recent years, our knowledge has increased regarding the role of some genetic and environmental factors that could affect susceptibility for developing myositis as well as the prognosis. Whether there is an association between myositis and malignancies has been a subject of controversy for many years and recent epidemiological data have brought some clarification on this issue.

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      Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) comprise a group of relatively rare muscle diseases (IIMs include dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) and necrotizing myositis (NM)) that display heterogeneous clinical phenotypes and occur secondary to systemic disorders such as vasculitides or connective tissue disease [1–5]. The clinical characteristics of IIMs include progressive muscle weakness that is accompanied by intact sensitivity and tendon reflexes, muscle pain and elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels [1–3,6]. IIMs can be further distinguished by observing the pattern of affected muscles, patient's age at disease onset, additional involvement of organs, detected autoantibodies and response to treatment [1,3,4].

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    All correspondence to: Ingrid E. Lundberg. Tel: +46-8-5177 6087; Fax: +46-8-5177 3080; E-mail: [email protected]

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