Clinical tools in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Abstract

Introduction. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies IIM are heterogenous group of autoimmune disorders with various manifestations that implies the need for specific tools to assess the patients. Purpose. To highlight the clinical tools used in the assessment of IIM patients from the OMERACTOutcomes Measurements in Rheumatology perspective. Material and methods. Data from scientific literature was selected and analyzed using databases such as PubMed Frontiers Scientific Research NIH BMJ Journals. Results. According to OMERACT IIM patients should be examined from patient and doctor point of view The main domains of interest related to patient are exhaustion degree of physical activity muscle symptoms pain and adverse events The International Myositis Assessment Clinical Study group has produced a core set of tools to measure disease activity like Patient and Medical Doctor Global Assessment also for its outcomes like Myositis Damage Index One of interest domain of IIM patient is the quality of life that is affected due to muscle weakness and can be measured using Short FormSF or its newest versions like SF or SF. Conclusions.Clinical tools play an important role in the objective examination of IIM patient and facilitates the results comparison in clinical studies.