title: Immunotherapies for Immune-Mediated Myopathies: A Current Perspective.
abstract: Until recently, the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory myopathies has largely been empirical with glucocorticoids, steroid-sparing immunosuppressive drugs, and intravenous immunoglobulin. However, a proportion of patients are only partially responsive to these therapies, and there has been a need to consider alternative treatment approaches. In particular, patients with inclusion body myositis are resistant to conventional immunotherapies or show only a transient response, and remain a major challenge. With increasing recognition of the different subtypes of immune-mediated inflammatory myopathies, and improved understanding of their pathogenesis, more targeted treatments are now being trialled. The overall approach to treatment, and novel therapies targeting B cells, T cells, and specific cytokines are discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, WA, Australia. Merrilee.Needham@health.wa.gov.au.|Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, 6150, WA, Australia. Merrilee.Needham@health.wa.gov.au.|West Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia. Merrilee.Needham@health.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Merrilee
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6591-1444
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Needham
authors.affiliation: Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, WA, Australia.|West Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mastaglia
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Immune-mediated myopathy; Inflammatory myopathy; Myositis; Treatment