The findings in a recent paper (1, also see 2) support the idea that the sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (sIBM) is an autoimmune disease—an idea that has been in doubt because some drugs that suppress the immune system (and are used to treat other autoimmune conditions) have been ineffective in sIBM patients. Although sIBM is characterized by muscle inflammation associated with T cells, the pr...

Necrotizing myopathies are a subtype of autoimmune characterized by muscle fiber necrosis with minimal infiltration inflammatory cells on biopsy. This group is defined flaccid palsies due to prima‑ ry skeletal damage as well extramuscular manifestations such fever, rash, arthritis, Raynaud’s syndrome and interstitial lung disease. The presence anti-SRP antibodies associated rapidly progressive ...

autoimmune disorders, most notably myasthenia gravis (MG) which is seen in up to 40% of cases.1,2 There are also a number of other less common autoimmune disorders associated with thymoma, including hyperexcitability syndromes,3 myositis,1 encephalitis,4 autonomic dysfunction,5 and lupus.6 In 2004 Vernino and Lennon7 reported autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in two patients from the...

The inflammatory myopathies, including dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, and polymyositis, are poorly understood autoimmune diseases affecting skeletal muscle. Dermatomyositis is a disease mainly of skin and muscle, but may affect lung and other tissues. Proximal or generalized weakness or skin rash are the typical presenting features. Inclusion body myositis has a specific clinical pat...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The pathogenesis of sporadic inclusion body myositis is complex and the disease has a relentless course. Recent observations regarding possible mechanisms of disease may provide targets for therapy. RECENT FINDINGS Evidence is strengthening that specific T-cell and B-cell responses are ongoing in skeletal muscle in sporadic inclusion body myositis and that cytokines and chem...

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are characterised by inflammatory involvement of skeletal muscles causing weakness and pain, with possible associated systemic manifestations including frequent interstitial lung disease (ILD), and significant morbidity and mortality. Accumulating evidence suggests an important contribution of autoimmune responses to the pathogenesis of these diseases. ...

OBJECTIVE To examine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the protein tyrosine phosphatase N22 gene (PTPN22) and to study the relationship between PTPN22 and the HLA region in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). METHODS PTPN22 SNPs were assessed in a large, cross-sectional, case-control study from the UK involving patients with adult or juvenile IIM, comprising patie...

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and progressive muscle weakness. Polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and inclusion body myositis (IBM) are the three major subsets based on distinct clinical and histopathological features. Since the pathogenesis remains unclear, therapeutic approaches actually compr...

Scleromyositis is a new clinical entity, which not only has and histopathological components of systemic sclerosis inflammatory myopathy but also characterized by presenting unique characteristics, may be in the previously mentioned diseases. Up until now, there are no specific classification criteria proposed American College Rheumatology or European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR). This...