[Chinese expert-based consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy associated...

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), a group of heterogenous autoimmune diseases, are characterized by proximal, skeletal muscle involvement of chronic immunological pathogenesis. IIM associated interstitial lung diseases (IIM-ILDs) are the most important causes of morbidity or mortality for IIM patients. Patients with IIM-ILDs always exhibit diversity of diseases manifestations including onset pattern, diseases progress, therapeutic respond and prognosis. Hence, the diagnosis and evaluation of IIM-ILDs usually need multidisciplinary consultations. And we have to face some dilemmas, such as sophisticated choice of immunosuppressants due to limited prospective research data, and personnel and different responses to therapeutic remedy. It is an urgent task to develop a consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of IIM-ILDs for guiding the routine practice of clinicians. Experts from pulmonology, rheumatology, and radiology were organized by Respiratory Council of Chinese Research Hospital Association, and developed a consensus based on previous studies and the experts^' experiences. This consensus mainly illustrated the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and evaluation, therapeutic remedy for IIM-ILDs. After full discussion and voting by the expert group, a total of 18 recommendations were formed, including 7 recommendations on diagnosis and evaluation, and 11 recommendations on the choice of therapeutic strategies. This consensus is intended to facilitate the standardization of diagnosis and treatment of patients with IIM-ILD and promote the development of relevant clinical and basic research in China.