Comparing and contrasting clinical and serological features of juvenile and adult-onset myositis: implications for pathogenesis and outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the different characteristics of the serological phenotypes identified in juvenile and adult myositis, consider how differences between the two groups might be explained and discuss how this enhances our understanding of disease pathogenesis.


RESULTS
Current research has focussed on two main areas: first, defining the autoantibody associated disease phenotype in greater detail, particularly with regard to cutaneous disease and within specified populations such as juvenile-onset disease and different ethnic groups, and second, we have gained new insights into disease pathogenesis through studies analysing genetic associations and autoantigen expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there are many clinically important differences between adult and juvenile-onset myositis, recent work has highlighted many of the similarities at least within autoantibody-defined subgroups. Viewing age at disease onset as a continuum with its own influence on disease phenotype strengthens the ability of autoantibodies to define homogenous disease groups, and may be important in understanding the relationship between autoantibodies and disease pathogenesis.
aRoyal National Hospital of Rheumatic Diseases, Bath bUniversity of Bath cInfection, Immunology, and Rheumatology Section, UCL Institute of Child Health and Arthritis Research UK Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK.
Sarah
S
Tansley
Lucy R
LR
Wedderburn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens