Active clinical trials for "Myositis"

Muscle biopsies of patients with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) have demonstrated a T-cell predominant inflammatory infiltrate, therefore, new agents targeting T -cell mediated cell death may be a novel treatment for IBM. Such an agent capable of preventing T-cell movement out of the vasculature, such as natalizumab, may be beneficial in IBM patients. Six patients will be recruited to participate in this phase I trial.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies lead to important functional limitations resulting from the loss of muscle strength and endurance, especially in the hip and shoulder, which leads to a significant loss of quality of life for patients. The aim of this study is to correlate the "Myositis Functional Index-3 (FI-3)" with muscle function assessed by computerized isokinetic dynamometry, electromyography and magnetic resonance through an observational study; and to compare the effects of a repetitive task training program with a resistance exercise program through an interventional study in patients with inflammatory myopathies. It is expected that FI-3 will present a good correlation with muscle function assessed by computerized isokinetic dynamometry and electromyography, given its reduced cost and less time spent on evaluation. It is also expected to demonstrate that repetitive task training is as efficient and safe as resistance exercises.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a great concern in acquired muscle illnesses. An appropriate and rapid diagnosis is necessary, because morbidity and mortality are high and a specific treatment is needed. Currently the use of muscle MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in departments managing IIM is common. In absence of recommendations fixing their place in the diagnostic phase, the practices observed are extremely heterogeneous. This practices diversity well reflects the lack of data in the literature, making it impossible to appreciate the real contribution of this test. The main aim of this interventional study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of muscle MRI (in terms of sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive value and predictive negative value) for patients who are suspected to suffer from IIM.

The objectives of this study are to test if hypoxia in muscle tissue is an important factor contributing to clinical symptoms in chronic rheumatic muscle inflammation and to evaluate if a 12 week endurance exercise program will improve muscle tissue hypoxia and disability in patients with chronic rheumatic muscle inflammation.

Exercise may improve physical capacity and health parameters in Primary Syndrome´s Sjogren, Myositis and Takayasu's Arteritis. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of an exercise training program in patients with Primary Syndrome´s Sjogren, Myositis and Takayasu's Arteritis.

Comparing the clinical effects of Acthar Gel before and after treatment and compare it to patients with inactive disease.

The aim of our study is to Assess skeletal muscle structural status in children with inflammatory myositis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy using musculoskeletal ultrasound and to perform a longitudinal follow up of these changes over 2 years and to assess the relation between these findings with clinical parameters, functional scales, biochemical and electromyographic tests.

This study will examine families in which one sibling of a sibling pair, or twin pair, has developed a systemic rheumatic disease and one has not, to see if and how the two differ in the following: Blood cell metabolism; Types of cells in the blood; Environmental exposures or genetic factors that might explain why one developed disease and the other did not. Families in which one sibling has developed a systemic rheumatic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, or myositis, and the other has not, are eligible for this study. The siblings may or may not be twins, but must be of the same gender and be within a 5-year age difference. Biological parents, or, in some cases, children, will also be included in the study. Normal, healthy volunteers will serve as control subjects. Participants will undergo some or all of the following tests and procedures: Medical history and physical examination. Participants will also be asked permission to obtain medical records for review. Questionnaires about environmental exposures at work, at home, and elsewhere. Probands (participants with rheumatic disease) and their healthy siblings will also answer questions about infections, vaccinations, medications or dietary supplements, sun exposure, and stressful events during the year before disease diagnosis in the affected sibling. Blood and urine collection for the following tests: Routine blood chemistries and other studies to rule out certain diseases or medical problems; Evidence of past toxic exposures and certain infections; Presence of cells from the mother in the child s blood and vice versa. (Recent studies suggest that during pregnancy or delivery, cells from the mother and baby may be exchanged and circulate in the body for many years, possibly causing problems); In twin or sibling pairs, presence of certain genes that may be more common in patients with systematic rheumatic diseases as compared with their unaffected siblings and normal volunteers; In identical twins, comparison of their blood cell metabolism to see if and how the metabolism differs in people with rheumatic disease. Participants may be asked for permission to have some of their blood and urine samples stored and to obtain previously collected blood or tissue biopsy specimens that are no longer needed for clinical care, for research purposes. They may also be asked to give additional blood or urine samples. Participants will be followed every year for 5 years (either in person or by questionnaire) to evaluate any changes in their condition. The final 5-year evaluation will repeat some of the questionnaires and procedures described above.

The principal objective of the study is to compare between CT and MRI diagnostic performance (sensibility and specificity) in the preoperative assessment of neurogenic para-osteo-arthritis. The second objectives of the study are: besides the diagnostic performance (sensibility and specificity), to evaluate the imaging par MRI in visual and descriptive manner heterotopic ossification and connection with vascular and nervous structures. to study the concordance (two by two) of results of preoperative obtained by MRI and by CT and operative reports. to study the characteristics of patients with discordant findings (two by two) by MRI, CT scan and operative report.

This study is designed to explore the expression of cell-surface markers in the following seven disease areas: (a) systemic lupus erythematosus, (b) Sjogren's syndrome, (c) multiple sclerosis, (d) systemic sclerosis, (e) Crohn's disease, (f) ulcerative colitis and (g) inflammatory myositis.