Study Background

This study will evaluate subjects with adult- and childhood-onset myositis to learn more about their causes and the immune system changes and medical problems associated with them. Myositis is an inflammatory muscle disease that can damage muscles and other organs, resulting in significant disability.

This study also intends to investigate the genetic and environmental risk factors involved in the development of myositis, an autoimmune muscle disease that causes chronic muscle weakness. Adults and children diagnosed with myositis may enroll by completing questionnaires and donating blood and urine samples.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Individuals meeting probable or definite criteria for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM).
  • Patient or parent/guardian must give informed consent to all or part of the study.
  • Selected patients with undefined illnesses who may have weakness, myalgias, or an elevated CK may be evaluated to establish a diagnosis and, if they are found to have IIM, would be offered the opportunity to enter the study.
  • For patients with at least one first-degree relative affected with IIIM, we will enroll all available first degree relatives (affected and unaffected) to participate in the genetics portion of the protocol.
  • Severe medical disease requiring intensive care or any other conditions in which the drawing of blood or undergoing procedures needed for the study is not deemed medically appropriate will be excluded from the study.

Principal Investigator

Lisa Rider, M.D.
Lisa Rider, M.D.
Head and Senior Clinician
Tel 301-451-6272
[email protected]
Curriculum Vitae (479KB)
10 Center Dr
NIHBC 10 - CRC - HATFIELD
Bethesda, MD 20892-1301

Lead Associate Investigator

Adam I. Schiffenbauer, M.D.
Adam I. Schiffenbauer, M.D.
Deputy Head and Associate Research Physician
Tel 301-451-6270
[email protected]
Curriculum Vitae (300KB)
10 Center Dr
NIHBC 10 - CLINICAL CENTER - MAGNUSON
Bethesda, MD 20892-1627