title: Current approach to the treatment of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
abstract: Although corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment for the inflammatory myopathies, their use is complicated by many side effects. Other immunosuppressive agents, alone or in combination, are being increasingly used for patients with other severe disease or treatment-related complications. Pulmonary disease remains a serious source of morbidity and mortality in myositis patients. Cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus are efficacious in patients with interstitial lung disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin is not only effective for the cutaneous complications of dermatomyositis but has been helpful in other extramuscular manifestations.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. oddis@msx.dept-med.pitt.edu
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Oddis
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine