Some histological and histochemical findings on the allergic experimental myositis of guinea pig and human cases with neuromuscular diseases were reported. Innoculated animals showed hardly any clinical sings but histological changes of thigh muscle and diaphragma which were similar to those seen in human polymyositis. Diaphragma showed more remarkable changes than thigh muscle. In human polymy...

We report one case of dermatomyositis and one of polymyositis refractory to several conventional inmunosupressive therapies, which present a response after treatment with rituximab, enabling steroid dose reduction and a prolonged remission.

An association between dermatomyositis-polymyositis and malignancy has been reported. However, controversy exists regarding a direct causal relationship between the two diseases. We describe a patient who had the concurrent onset and parallel clinical course of dermatomyositis and malignancy, and discuss the possible mechanisms for the association of the two disorders.

The measurement of serum creatine kinase (CK), which is used widely in the diagnosis and management of polymyositis and dermatomyositis lacks both sensitivity and specificity, leading to potential problems if the serum total CK concentration is interpreted as a direct measure of muscle disease activity. Furthermore, in those cases where the total CK is raised reliance on an analysis of the CK i...

The measurement of serum creatine kinase (CK), which is used widely in the diagnosis and management of polymyositis and dermatomyositis lacks both sensitivity and specificity, leading to potential problems if the serum total CK concentration is interpreted as a direct measure of muscle disease activity. Furthermore, in those cases where the total CK is raised reliance on an analysis of the CK i...

The measurement of serum creatine kinase (CK), which is used widely in the diagnosis and management of polymyositis and dermatomyositis lacks both sensitivity and specificity, leading to potential problems if the serum total CK concentration is interpreted as a direct measure of muscle disease activity. Furthermore, in those cases where the total CK is raised reliance on an analysis of the CK i...

Thirty-two patients with polymyositis were categorised into 4 groups: (1) 'pure' polymyositis, (2) dermatomyositis, (3) myositis associated with autoimmune 'overlap syndrome', and (4) those with associated malignancy. Serum from each patient was examined for a range of antinuclear antibodies. Seventeen patients had ANA detected by immunofluorescence, 18 patients had raised DNA binding (greater ...

SIR, Measurement of serum creatine kinase is an accepted procedure in the follow up of patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis. This parameter is nearly always raised at some point in the illness, and serves as a useful guide in making decisions regarding therapy. There are preliminary reports on the importance of determination of serum myoglobin levels in such patients, however, suggesti...