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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
09:01
Vascular Occlusion Training for Inclusion Body Myositis: A Novel Therapeutic Approach
Published on: June 5, 2010
Therapeutic approaches in myositis
Rohit Aggarwal1, Chester V Oddis
1Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, BST S 727, 3500 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. aggarwalr@upmc.edu
Current Rheumatology Reports
|March 3, 2011
Summary
Corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for inflammatory myopathies, but often lead to toxicity or ineffectiveness. Other immunosuppressive drugs show promise for dermatomyositis and polymyositis, though more clinical trials are needed.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Neurology
- Immunology
Background:
- Inflammatory myopathies encompass dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis.
- Limited clinical trials hinder treatment recommendations for these rare diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current treatment strategies for inflammatory myopathies.
- To evaluate the efficacy and evidence base for various immunosuppressive therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature, including case reports and open studies.
- Analysis of evidence for corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and other immunosuppressants like methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab.
Main Results:
- Corticosteroids are the consensus first-line therapy despite lack of randomized trials.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin shows short-term benefit; long-term data is limited.
- Evidence for other immunosuppressants is mainly from observational studies; newer agents like rituximab show promise.
Conclusions:
- Immunosuppressive drugs appear effective for dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
- Further randomized controlled trials are crucial to establish definitive treatment guidelines and assess long-term outcomes.
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