Polymyositis

Despite advancements in the treatments for rheumatic diseases, early mortality rates associated with idiopathic inflammatory myositis have not improved in recent years, according to data presented at the EULAR 2020 E-Congress.

Oncologists should be encouraged to promptly consult with rheumatologists in the event of suspected immune-related adverse events due to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, according to a series of “points to consider” published by EULAR in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Among systemic rheumatic diseases, the risk for opportunistic infection is highest among patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren’s syndrome, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

SAN DIEGO — The use of electromyograms and nerve conduction studies are essential to excluding alternative diagnoses and confirming muscle disease when evaluating patients with suspected myopathic disorders, according to a presentation at the 2019 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology West.