Abstract
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are rare autoimmune diseases and include dermatomyositis, polymyositis, necrotizing myopathy and inclusion body myositis; they are characterized by inflammation of skeletal muscle and other internal organs and may potentially lead to irreversible damage and death. Only a small percentage of IIM has clinically overt cardiac disease; however, heart involvement is one of the leading causes of death and therefore, early detection remains a challenge.
Biochemical markers and non-invasive methods such as the electrocardiogram and echocardiography have a role in diagnosis, but lack sensitivity in identifying patients with early, sublinical cardiac abnormalities. Endomyocardial and skeletal muscle biopsies are very useful, but invasive techniques and cannot be used for routine follow-up. Cardiac and skeletal magnetic resonance imaging, due to their capability to perform tissue characterization, has emerged as novel techniques for the early detection and follow-up of myocardial and skeletal muscle tissue changes (oedema, inflammation, fibrosis) in IIM. However, the clinical implications of using these approaches and their cost /benefit ratio require further evaluation.
Keywords: Heart failure, inflammatory myopathies, magnetic resonance imaging, myocarditis.
Related Journals
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Bioactive Compounds
Current Drug Safety
Current Drug Targets
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery
Current Drug Discovery Technologies
Recent Advances in Anti-Infective Drug Discovery
Related Books
Computer-Aided Drug Discovery Methods: A Brief Introduction
Medicinal Plants, Phytomedicines and Traditional Herbal Remedies for Drug Discovery and Development against COVID-19
Frontiers in Drug Design and Discovery
Key Heterocyclic Cores for Smart Anticancer Drug–Design Part II
Key Heterocyclic Cores for Smart Anticancer Drug–Design Part I
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Drug Discovery
Frontiers in Drug Design and Discovery
Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery
Frontiers in Drug Design and Discovery
Anti-Obesity Drug Discovery and Development
64