Classification and management of adult inflammatory myopathies

Publication date: September 2018Source: The Lancet Neurology, Volume 17, Issue 9Author(s): Albert Selva-O'Callaghan, Iago Pinal-Fernandez, Ernesto Trallero-Araguás, José César Milisenda, Josep Maria Grau-Junyent, Andrew L MammenSummaryInflammatory myopathies, collectively known as myositis, are heterogeneous disorders characterised by muscle inflammation, and frequently accompanied by extramuscular manifestations that affect the skin, lung, and joints. Patients with inflammatory myopathies were previously classified as having dermatomyositis if characteristic rashes accompanied the muscle involvement, and as having polymyositis if no rashes were present. Five main types of inflammatory myopathies are now widely recognised: dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotising myopathy, sporadic inclusion-body myositis, overlap myositis (including antisynthetase syndrome), and polymyositis. The discovery of autoantibodies that are specifically associated with characteristic clinical phenotypes has been instrumental to the understanding of inflammatory myopathies. Treatment is still largely based on expert opinion, but several studies have shown effectiveness of different therapies in various subsets of inflammatory myopathies. These advances will undoubtedly improve the outcomes of patients with inflammatory myopathies.
Source: The Lancet Neurology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research