Autoantibodies in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: Focus on clinical practice

Abstract

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) comprise a heterogenous group of ill- nesses characterized by immune mediated muscular injuries that may be accom- panied by extra-muscular manifestations.

The identification of myositis-specific autoantibodies MSAs and myositis-associ- ated autoantibodies (MAA) has become a relevant tool in the diagnose, classifica- tion, and prognosis in this group of illnesses.

They become relevant in the diagnose and determination of a prognosis for Inter- stitial Lung Disease (ILD), in the differentiated diagnose among sub-groups of MII, especially in entities of an atypical behavior, such as Immune Mediated Necrotiz- ing Myopathy (IMNM) and Inclusion Body Myositis, and they enable a strict focus and follow-up on patients with cancer-associated autoantibodies.

Lately, its usefulness has been stated both to determine disease activity and to forecast the response to the immunosuppressive treatment.