Author/Editor		Krajnc, I; Gorišek, B
Title		Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis und Einschlusskoerpermyositis - Kritische Uebersicht der aktuellen Kriterien in der Diagnostik und Therapie
Type		članek
Source		Aktuel Rheumatol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 22, št. 4
Publication year		1997
Volume		str. 123-30
Language		ger
Abstract		Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis and inslucion-Body Myositis - Critical Overview of Current Criteria in Diagnosis and Therapy: In case of diseases with unknown etiology, like the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, we must tackle first of all the question of classification and the grade of disease activity in the particular patient concerned, before we initiate treatment. The majority of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are diagnosed clinically and confirmed by biopsy. The presently applicable methods of diagnosis and evaluation of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy point to certain limitations in resped of application, and hence it is necessary to apply new methods of rating the disease adivities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 99m/technetium muscle-scanning are the latest noninvasive methods for evaluation of disease activities with myositis. Future laboratory methods to determine the numerous myositis-specific autoantibodies will probably enable identifiwtion of subsets of these diseases. The lack of adequate control studies is the main problem of the present therapy of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. The entire application of immunosuppressive drugs rests on our own judgment and the experiences gained with these drugs, as well as on the efficacy-safety ratio. Prednisone still remains the drug of choice for treating these diseases, while among the non-steroidal immunosuppressive drugs, the following have been mentioned: azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide. The question regarding the best access for treating inclusive-boy myositis has not been solved to date.
Descriptors		POLYMYOSITIS DERMATOMYOSITIS