Askanas et al., Los Angeles, USA Pathophysiology of inflammatory and autoimmune myopathies M.C. Dalakas, Philadelphia, USA Myositis or dystrophy? Traps and pitfalls O. Benveniste et al., Paris, France Therapy of polymyositis and dermatomyositis I. Marie, Rouen, France The aim of this brief introductory review is to consider the approaches that have been taken over the last half-century to the classification of the inflammatory myopathies (myositides). Reclassification has been suggested periodically, mainly on the basis of developments in the immunocytochemical analysis of buy Ion Channel Ligand Library muscle biopsy specimens, which we believe gives us new insights into

pathogenetic mechanisms, and observations on associated immune phenomena. I will conclude that despite these apparent advances

we are selleck chemicals llc arguably little closer to a universally agreed system of classification, but nonetheless will suggest a framework that is helpful for everyday clinical practice. Broadly speaking, myositis may be seen in one of three settings. Least commonly a specific cause can be identified–examples include infections directly involving muscle, and drug- and toxin-induced myositis (e.g. statins, macrophagic myofasciitis). Secondly, myositis may be seen in association with additional specific clinic-pathological features or separately recognised disease (e.g. hypereosinophilia, sarcoidosis, vasculitis). This group includes well-defined connective tissue disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Sjögren’s syndrome, scleroderma). The third group, and the one that causes the greatest difficulties with classification, comprises the idiopathic Adenylyl cyclase inflammatory myopathies (IIM)–by convention this is taken to include dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM) and sporadic inclusion-body myositis (sIBM). Whether sIBM should be included is open to debate. As will be discussed, there is significant overlap between the second and third groups; features of connective tissue disease, both immunological and clinical, may be seen in association

with PM and DM. Furthermore, so-called “idiopathic” inflammatory myopathies may not always be idiopathic and DM at least has a significant association with neoplasia. There is currently a popular television quiz programme, franchised around the world, called “Who wants to be a millionaire?”. If the contestant does not know, or is uncertain of, the answer to a question he or she may “phone a friend”. In a similar idiom I emailed five friends, all of whom would indubitably be considered world authorities in the field of myology, and asked them for their definition of myositis, and their approach to classification. It was encouraging, to me at least, that our views were broadly very similar differing more in nuance than degree.