Analysis of muscle magnetic resonance imaging of a large cohort of patient with VCP-mediated disease reveals characteristic features useful for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of patients with mutations in the VCP gene can be complicated due to their broad phenotypic spectrum including myopathy, motor neuron disease and peripheral neuropathy. Muscle MRI guides the diagnosis in neuromuscular diseases (NMDs); however, comprehensive muscle MRI features for VCP patients have not been reported so far. METHODS: We collected muscle MRIs of 80 of the 255 patients who participated in the "VCP International Study" and reviewed the T1-weighted (T1w) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences. We identified a series of potential diagnostic MRI based characteristics useful for the diagnosis of VCP disease and validated them in 1089 MRIs from patients with other genetically confirmed NMDs. RESULTS: Fat replacement of at least one muscle was identified in all symptomatic patients. The most common finding was the existence of patchy areas of fat replacement. Although there was a wide variability of muscles affected, we observed a common pattern characterized by the involvement of periscapular, paraspinal, gluteal and quadriceps muscles. STIR signal was enhanced in 67% of the patients, either in the muscle itself or in the surrounding fascia. We identified 10 diagnostic characteristics based on the pattern identified that allowed us to distinguish VCP disease from other neuromuscular diseases with high accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mutations in the VCP gene had common features on muscle MRI that are helpful for diagnosis purposes, including the presence of patchy fat replacement and a prominent involvement of the periscapular, paraspinal, abdominal and thigh muscles.

Current status of clinical outcome measures in inclusion body myositis: a systematised review.

OBJECTIVES: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a debilitating idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) which affects hand function, ambulation, and swallowing. There is no approved pharmacological therapy for IBM, and there is a lack of suitable outcome measure to assess the effect of an intervention. The IBM scientific interest group under IMACS reviewed the previously used outcome measures in IBM clinical studies to lay the path for developing a core set of outcome measures in IBM. METHODS: In this systematised review, we have extracted all outcome measures reported in IBM clinical studies to determine what measures were being used and to assess the need for optimising outcome measures in IBM. RESULTS: We found 13 observational studies, 17 open-label clinical trials, and 15 randomised control trials (RCTs) in IBM. Six-minute walk distance, IBM-functional rating scale (IBM-FRS), quantitative muscle testing, manual muscle testing, maximal voluntary isometric contraction testing, and thigh muscle volume measured by MRI were used as primary outcome measures. Twelve different outcome measures of motor function were used in IBM clinical trials. IBM-FRS was the most used measure of functionality. Swallowing function was reported as a secondary outcome measure in only 3 RCTs. CONCLUSIONS: There are inconsistencies in using outcome measures in clinical studies in IBM. The core set measures developed by the IMACS group for other IIMs are not directly applicable to IBM. As a result, there is an unmet need for an IBM-specific core set of measures to facilitate the evaluation of new potential therapeutics for IBM.

Telemedicine in Neuromuscular Diseases During Covid-19 Pandemic: ERN-NMD European Survey.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine (TM) contributes to bridge the gap between healthcare facilities and patients' homes with neuromuscular disease (NMD) because of mobility issues. However, its deployment is limited due to difficulties evaluating subtle neurological signs such as mild weakness or sensory deficits. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare delivery worldwide, necessitating rapid measures implementation by health care providers (HCPs) to protect patients from acquiring SARS-CoV-2 while maintaining the best care and treatment. OBJECTIVES: Given the challenges faced by remote healthcare assistance of NMD patients, we aim to evaluate the use of TM in NMD during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Based on the Model for Assessment-of-Telemedicine-Applications (MAST), we conducted a survey amongst clinicians of the ERN EURO NMD (European-Reference-Network-for-Rare-Neuromuscular-Diseases). RESULTS: Based on 42 responses over 76 expected ones, our results show that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the number of HCPs using TM (from 60% to 100%). The TM types most used during the COVID-19 period are teleconsultation and consultation by phone, particularly in the context of symptoms worsening in NMD patients with COVID-19 infection. Most European HCPs were satisfied when using TM but as a complementary option to physical consultations. Many responses addressed the issue of technical aspects needing improvement, particularly for elderly patients who need caregivers' assistance for accessing the TM platform. CONCLUSIONS: TM has been essential during COVID-19, but its use still presents some limitations for NMD patients with cognitive deficits or for first-time diagnosis. Thus, TM should be used as complement to, rather than substitute, for face-to-face consultations.

Genotype-phenotype correlations in valosin-containing protein disease: a retrospective muticentre study.

BACKGROUND: Valosin-containing protein (VCP) disease, caused by mutations in the VCP gene, results in myopathy, Paget's disease of bone (PBD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Natural history and genotype-phenotype correlation data are limited. This study characterises patients with mutations in VCP gene and investigates genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: Descriptive retrospective international study collecting clinical and genetic data of patients with mutations in the VCP gene. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients (70.0% males) were included in the study. Mean age was 56.8±9.6 years and mean age of onset 45.6±9.3 years. Mean diagnostic delay was 7.7±6 years. Symmetric lower limb weakness was reported in 50% at onset progressing to generalised muscle weakness. Other common symptoms were ventilatory insufficiency 40.3%, PDB 28.2%, dysautonomia 21.4% and FTD 14.3%. Fifty-seven genetic variants were identified, 18 of these no previously reported. c.464G>A (p.Arg155His) was the most frequent variant, identified in the 28%. Full time wheelchair users accounted for 19.1% with a median time from disease onset to been wheelchair user of 8.5 years. Variant c.463C>T (p.Arg155Cys) showed an earlier onset (37.8±7.6 year) and a higher frequency of axial and upper limb weakness, scapular winging and cognitive impairment. Forced vital capacity (FVC) below 50% was as risk factor for being full-time wheelchair user, while FVC <70% and being a full-time wheelchair user were associated with death. CONCLUSION: This study expands the knowledge on the phenotypic presentation, natural history, genotype-phenotype correlations and risk factors for disease progression of VCP disease and is useful to improve the care provided to patient with this complex disease.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy-Reproductive counseling, pregnancy, and delivery in a complex multigenetic disease.

Reproductive counseling in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) can be challenging due to the complexity of its underlying genetic mechanisms and due to incomplete penetrance of the disease. Full understanding of the genetic causes and potential inheritance patterns of both distinct FSHD types is essential: FSHD1 is an autosomal dominantly inherited repeat disorder, whereas FSHD2 is a digenic disorder. This has become even more relevant now that prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis options are available for FSHD1. Pregnancy and delivery outcomes in FSHD are usually favorable, but clinicians should be aware of the risks. We aim to provide clinicians with case-based strategies for reproductive counseling in FSHD, as well as recommendations for pregnancy and delivery.

Phase 1 clinical trial of losmapimod in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy: Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and target engagement.

AIMS: Evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and target engagement (TE) of losmapimod in blood and muscle in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). METHODS: This study included Part A: 10 healthy volunteers randomized to single oral doses of losmapimod (7.5 mg then 15 mg; n = 8) or placebo (both periods; n = 2); Part B: 15 FSHD subjects randomized to placebo (n = 3), or losmapimod 7.5 mg (n = 6) or 15 mg (n = 6); and Part C: FSHD subjects received open-label losmapimod 15 mg (n = 5) twice daily for 14 days. Biopsies were performed in FSHD subjects at baseline and Day 14 in magnetic resonance imaging-normal appearing (Part B) and affected muscle identified by abnormal short-tau inversion recovery sequence + (Part C). PK and TE, based on pHSP27:total HSP27, were assessed in muscle and sorbitol-stimulated blood. RESULTS: PK profiles were similar between healthy volunteers and FSHD subjects, with mean Cmax and AUC0-12 for 15 mg in FSHD subjects (Part B) of 85.0 ± 16.7 ng*h/mL and 410 ± 50.3 ng*h/mL, respectively. Part B and Part C PK results were similar, and 7.5 mg results were approximately dose proportional to 15 mg results. Dose-dependent concentrations in muscle (42.1 ± 10.5 ng/g [7.5 mg] to 97.2 ± 22.4 ng/g [15 mg]) were observed, with plasma-to-muscle ratio from ~0.67 to ~1 at estimated tmax of 3.5 hours postdose. TE was observed in blood and muscle. Adverse events (AEs) were mild and self-limited. CONCLUSION: Losmapimod was well tolerated, with no serious AEs. Dose-dependent PK and TE were observed. This study supports advancing losmapimod into Phase 2 trials in FSHD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial identifier ToetsingOnline: NL68539.056.18 Nederlands Trials Register NL8000.

Second intravenous immunoglobulin dose in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with poor prognosis (SID-GBS): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with one standard dose (2 g/kg) of intravenous immunoglobulin is insufficient in a proportion of patients with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome. Worldwide, around 25% of patients severely affected with the syndrome are given a second intravenous immunoglobulin dose (SID), although it has not been proven effective. We aimed to investigate whether a SID is effective in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with a predicted poor outcome. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (SID-GBS), we included patients (≥12 years) with Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to one of 59 participating hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients were included on the first day of standard intravenous immunoglobulin treatment (2 g/kg over 5 days). Only patients with a poor prognosis (score of ≥6) according to the modified Erasmus Guillain-Barré syndrome Outcome Score were randomly assigned, via block randomisation stratified by centre, to SID (2 g/kg over 5 days) or to placebo, 7-9 days after inclusion. Patients, outcome adjudicators, monitors, and the steering committee were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome measure was the Guillain-Barré syndrome disability score 4 weeks after inclusion. All patients in whom allocated trial medication was started were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. This study is registered with the Netherlands Trial Register, NTR 2224/NL2107. FINDINGS: Between Feb 16, 2010, and June 5, 2018, 327 of 339 patients assessed for eligibility were included. 112 had a poor prognosis. Of those, 93 patients with a poor prognosis were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 49 (53%) received SID and 44 (47%) received placebo. The adjusted common odds ratio for improvement on the Guillain-Barré syndrome disability score at 4 weeks was 1·4 (95% CI 0·6-3·3; p=0·45). Patients given SID had more serious adverse events (35% vs 16% in the first 30 days), including thromboembolic events, than those in the placebo group. Four patients died in the intervention group (13-24 weeks after randomisation). INTERPRETATION: Our study does not provide evidence that patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with a poor prognosis benefit from a second intravenous immunoglobulin course; moreover, it entails a risk of serious adverse events. Therefore, a second intravenous immunoglobulin course should not be considered for treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome because of a poor prognosis. The results indicate the need for treatment trials with other immune modulators in patients severely affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome. FUNDING: Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds and Sanquin Plasma Products.

Efficacy and Safety of Bimagrumab in Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis: Long-term Extension of RESILIENT.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term (2 years) effects of bimagrumab in participants with sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM). METHODS: Participants (aged 36-85 years) who completed the core study (RESILIENT [Efficacy and Safety of Bimagrumab/BYM338 at 52 Weeks on Physical Function, Muscle Strength, Mobility in sIBM Patients]) were invited to join an extension study. Individuals continued on the same treatment as in the core study (10 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg bimagrumab or matching placebo administered as IV infusions every 4 weeks). The co-primary outcome measures were 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and safety. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and February 2017, 211 participants entered double-blind placebo-controlled period of the extension study. Mean change in 6MWD from baseline was highly variable across treatment groups, but indicated progressive deterioration from weeks 24-104 in all treatment groups. Overall, 91.0% (n = 142) of participants in the pooled bimagrumab group and 89.1% (n = 49) in the placebo group had ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event (AE). Falls were slightly higher in the bimagrumab 3 mg/kg group vs 10 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, and placebo groups (69.2% [n = 36 of 52] vs 56.6% [n = 30 of 53], 58.8% [n = 30 of 51], and 61.8% [n = 34 of 55], respectively). The most frequently reported AEs in the pooled bimagrumab group were diarrhea 14.7% (n = 23), involuntary muscle contractions 9.6% (n = 15), and rash 5.1% (n = 8). Incidence of serious AEs was comparable between the pooled bimagrumab and the placebo group (18.6% [n = 29] vs 14.5% [n = 8], respectively). CONCLUSION: Extended treatment with bimagrumab up to 2 years produced a good safety profile and was well-tolerated, but did not provide clinical benefits in terms of improvement in mobility. The extension study was terminated early due to core study not meeting its primary endpoint. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02573467. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with sIBM, long-term treatment with bimagrumab was safe, well-tolerated, and did not provide meaningful functional benefit. The study is rated Class IV because of the open-label design of extension treatment period 2.

Repetitive ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the repetitive ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (RoVEMP) test for diagnostic use in myasthenia gravis (MG) and to investigate its value in diagnostically challenging subgroups. METHODS: The RoVEMP test was performed in 92 patients with MG, 22 healthy controls, 33 patients with a neuromuscular disease other than MG (neuromuscular controls), 4 patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and 2 patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome. RESULTS: Mean decrement was significantly higher in patients with MG (28.4% ± 32.2) than in healthy controls (3.2% ± 13.9; p < 0.001) or neuromuscular controls (3.8% ± 26.9; p < 0.001). With neuromuscular controls as reference, a cutoff of ≥14.3% resulted in a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 82%. The sensitivity of the RoVEMP test was 80% in ocular MG and 63% in generalized MG. The RoVEMP test was positive in 6 of 7 patients with seronegative MG (SNMG) with isolated ocular weakness. Of 10 patients with SNMG with negative repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) results, 73% had an abnormal RoVEMP test. The magnitude of decrement was correlated with the time since the last intake of pyridostigmine (B = 5.40; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The RoVEMP test is a new neurophysiologic test that, in contrast to RNS and single-fiber EMG, is able to measure neuromuscular transmission of extraocular muscles, which are the most affected muscles in MG. Especially in diagnostically challenging patients with negative antibody tests, negative RNS results, and isolated ocular muscle weakness, the RoVEMP test has a clear added value in supporting the diagnosis of MG. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that RoVEMP distinguishes MG from other neuromuscular diseases.

Safety and efficacy of intravenous bimagrumab in inclusion body myositis (RESILIENT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial.

BACKGROUND: Inclusion body myositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and the most common myopathy affecting people older than 50 years. To date, there are no effective drug treatments. We aimed to assess the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of bimagrumab-a fully human monoclonal antibody-in individuals with inclusion body myositis. METHODS: We did a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (RESILIENT) at 38 academic clinical sites in Australia, Europe, Japan, and the USA. Individuals (aged 36-85 years) were eligible for the study if they met modified 2010 Medical Research Council criteria for inclusion body myositis. We randomly assigned participants (1:1:1:1) using a blocked randomisation schedule (block size of four) to either bimagrumab (10 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 1 mg/kg) or placebo matched in appearance to bimagrumab, administered as intravenous infusions every 4 weeks for at least 48 weeks. All study participants, the funder, investigators, site personnel, and people doing assessments were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome measure was 6-min walking distance (6MWD), which was assessed at week 52 in the primary analysis population and analysed by intention-to-treat principles. We used a multivariate normal repeated measures model to analyse data for 6MWD. Safety was assessed by recording adverse events and by electrocardiography, echocardiography, haematological testing, urinalysis, and blood chemistry. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01925209; this report represents the final analysis. FINDINGS: Between Sept 26, 2013, and Jan 6, 2016, 251 participants were enrolled to the study, of whom 63 were assigned to each bimagrumab group and 62 were allocated to the placebo group. At week 52, 6MWD change from baseline did not differ between any bimagrumab dose and placebo (least squares mean treatment difference for bimagrumab 10 mg/kg group, 17·6 m, SE 14·3, 99% CI -19·6 to 54·8; p=0·22; for 3 mg/kg group, 18·6 m, 14·2, -18·2 to 55·4; p=0·19; and for 1 mg/kg group, -1·3 m, 14·1, -38·0 to 35·4; p=0·93). 63 (100%) participants in each bimagrumab group and 61 (98%) of 62 in the placebo group had at least one adverse event. Falls were the most frequent adverse event (48 [76%] in the bimagrumab 10 mg/kg group, 55 [87%] in the 3 mg/kg group, 54 [86%] in the 1 mg/kg group, and 52 [84%] in the placebo group). The most frequently reported adverse events with bimagrumab were muscle spasms (32 [51%] in the bimagrumab 10 mg/kg group, 43 [68%] in the 3 mg/kg group, 25 [40%] in the 1 mg/kg group, and 13 [21%] in the placebo group) and diarrhoea (33 [52%], 28 [44%], 20 [32%], and 11 [18%], respectively). Adverse events leading to discontinuation were reported in four (6%) participants in each bimagrumab group compared with one (2%) participant in the placebo group. At least one serious adverse event was reported by 21 (33%) participants in the 10 mg/kg group, 11 (17%) in the 3 mg/kg group, 20 (32%) in the 1 mg/kg group, and 20 (32%) in the placebo group. No significant adverse cardiac effects were recorded on electrocardiography or echocardiography. Two deaths were reported during the study, one attributable to subendocardial myocardial infarction (secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding after an intentional overdose of concomitant sedatives and antidepressants) and one attributable to lung adenocarcinoma. Neither death was considered by the investigator to be related to bimagrumab. INTERPRETATION: Bimagrumab showed a good safety profile, relative to placebo, in individuals with inclusion body myositis but did not improve 6MWD. The strengths of our study are that, to the best of our knowledge, it is the largest randomised controlled trial done in people with inclusion body myositis, and it provides important natural history data over 12 months. FUNDING: Novartis Pharma.

Seronegative patients form a distinctive subgroup of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of different clinico-serologic subgroups of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from medical charts of 64 patients diagnosed with IMNM between 2012 and 2017 in 3 neuromuscular referral centers in The Netherlands and 1 in Belgium. Results: Seventeen patients had anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) autoantibodies (Abs), of whom 11 had a history of statin use, 15 had anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) Abs, 2 had anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) Abs, 22 patients were seronegative, and 9 patients did not have a complete Ab assessment. Moderate to severe disability in HMGCR Ab-positive and anti-SRP Ab-positive IMNM was common (71% and 60%, respectively) despite multimodality treatment. Compared with statin-associated anti-HMGCR Ab-positive IMNM, statin-naive anti-HMGCR Ab-positive IMNM patients were more often men (67% vs 45%), had lower rates of dysphagia (17% vs 45%), and more frequently had third-line therapy (50% vs 9%) and poor to fatal outcome (50% vs 0%). Compared with seropositive IMNM, seronegative IMNM was characterized by female predominance (1:3), frequent occurrence of associated connective tissue disorders (22% vs 9%), and significantly higher rates of extramuscular disease activity (50% vs 16%, p 0.014; 2-sided Fisher exact), also after excluding patients with an associated connective tissue disease (35% vs 7%, p 0.038; 2-sided Fisher exact). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that seronegative IMNM forms a subgroup with distinctive features from seropositive IMNM.

FSHD type 2 and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome: Two faces of the same mutation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether congenital arhinia/Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome (BAMS) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2 (FSHD2), 2 seemingly unrelated disorders both caused by heterozygous pathogenic missense variants in the SMCHD1 gene, might represent different ends of a broad single phenotypic spectrum associated with SMCHD1 dysfunction. METHODS: We examined and/or interviewed 14 patients with FSHD2 and 4 unaffected family members with N-terminal SMCHD1 pathogenic missense variants to identify BAMS subphenotypes. RESULTS: None of the patients with FSHD2 or family members demonstrated any congenital defects or dysmorphic features commonly found in patients with BAMS. One patient became anosmic after nasal surgery and one patient was hyposmic; one man was infertile (unknown cause) but reported normal pubertal development. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that arhinia/BAMS and FSHD2 do not represent one phenotypic spectrum and that SMCHD1 pathogenic variants by themselves are insufficient to cause either of the 2 disorders. More likely, both arhinia/BAMS and FSHD2 are caused by complex oligogenic or multifactorial mechanisms that only partially overlap at the level of SMCHD1.

Cytokine Profiling of Serum Allows Monitoring of Disease Progression in Inclusion Body Myositis.

BACKGROUND: Inclusion body myositis is a late onset inflammatory myopathy lacking reliable serum biomarkers for diagnosis and for disease progression. OBJECTIVE: To identify diagnostic and predictive biomarkers, cytokine profiling is used to assess the potential of cytokines to discriminate between cases and controls and to assess whether treatment with methotrexate can influence biomarkers associated with disease progression. METHODS: The diagnostic and follow-up potential of 48 cytokines was tested using Bioplex-assay and ELISA in sera of healthy individuals, IBM patients and patients with other neuromuscular disorders. RESULTS: Ten cytokines (TRAIL, IL-8, MIF, MCP-1, LIF, IP-10, IFN-α2, MIG, bNGF and IL-3) were identified to be good to excellent markers to discern IBM patients from healthy controls. Three cytokines (IP-10, Eotaxin and SDF1A) changed significantly upon methotrexate treatment as compared with the natural clinical course. Muscle strength loss was associated with changes in IL-8 and SDF1A levels. IFN-γ levels were only associated with survival of IBM patients before correction for multiple comparisons. DISCUSSION: Cytokine profiling can discriminate IBM patients from healthy controls and other neuromuscular disorders. Immunosuppression with methotrexate affects cytokine levels in IBM. IL-8 and SDF1A could serve as biomarkers for disease progression.

Interventions for dysphagia in long-term, progressive muscle disease.

BACKGROUND: Normal swallowing function is divided into oral, pharyngeal, and oesophageal phases. The anatomy and physiology of the oral cavity facilitates an oral preparatory phase of swallowing, in which food and liquid are pushed towards the pharynx by the tongue. During pharyngeal and oesophageal phases of swallowing, food and liquid are moved from the pharynx to the stomach via the oesophagus. Our understanding of swallowing function in health and disease has informed our understanding of how muscle weakness can disrupt swallowing in people with muscle disease. As a common complication of long-term, progressive muscle disease, there is a clear need to evaluate the current interventions for managing swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). This is an update of a review first published in 2004. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of interventions for dysphagia in people with long-term, progressive muscle disease. SEARCH METHODS: On 11 January 2016, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, LILACS, and CINAHL. We checked references in the identified trials for additional randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform on 12 January 2016 for ongoing or completed but unpublished clinical trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that assessed the effect of interventions for managing dysphagia in adults and children with long-term, progressive muscle disease, compared to other interventions, placebo, no intervention, or standard care. Quasi-randomised controlled trials are trials that used a quasi-random method of allocation, such as date of birth, alternation, or case record number. Review authors previously excluded trials involving people with muscle conditions of a known inflammatory or toxic aetiology. In this review update, we decided to include trials of people with sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) on the basis that it presents as a long-term, progressive muscle disease with uncertain degenerative and inflammatory aetiology and is typically refractory to treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We applied standard Cochrane methodological procedures. MAIN RESULTS: There were no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that reported results in terms of the review's primary outcome of interest, weight gain or maintenance. However, we identified one RCT that assessed the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin on swallowing function in people with IBM. The trial authors did not specify the number of study participants who had dysphagia. There was also incomplete reporting of findings from videofluoroscopic investigations, which was one of the review's secondary outcome measures. The study did report reductions in the time taken to swallow, as measured using ultrasound. No serious adverse events occurred during the study, although data for the follow-up period were lacking. It was also unclear whether the non-serious adverse events reported occurred in the treatment group or the placebo group. We assessed this study as having a high risk of bias and uncertain confidence intervals for the review outcomes, which limited the overall quality of the evidence. Using GRADE criteria, we downgraded the quality of the evidence from this RCT to 'low' for efficacy in treating dysphagia, due to limitations in study design and implementation, and indirectness in terms of the population and outcome measures. Similarly, we assessed the quality of the evidence for adverse events as 'low'. From our search for RCTs, we identified two other non-randomised studies, which reported the effects of long-term intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in adults with IBM and lip-strengthening exercises in children with myotonic dystrophy type 1. Headaches affected two participants treated with long-term intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, who received a tailored dose reduction; there were no adverse events associated with lip-strengthening exercises. Both non-randomised studies identified improved outcomes for some participants following the intervention, but neither study specified the number of participants with dysphagia or demonstrated any group-level treatment effect for swallowing function using the outcomes prespecified in this review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient and low-quality RCT evidence to determine the effect of interventions for dysphagia in long-term, progressive muscle disease. Clinically relevant effects of intravenous immunoglobulin for dysphagia in inclusion body myositis can neither be confirmed or excluded using the evidence presented in this review. Standardised, validated, and reliable outcome measures are needed to assess dysphagia and any possible treatment effect. Clinically meaningful outcomes for dysphagia may require a shift in focus from measures of impairment to disability associated with oral feeding difficulties.

A protocol to develop clinical guidelines for inclusion-body myositis.

INTRODUCTION: Inclusion-body myositis (IBM) is a late-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy associated with selective and progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Current clinical management of IBM is largely supportive due to its uncertain etiology and lack of effective treatment. Establishing a consensus of opinion on questions relating to diagnosis and management of IBM is expected to help reduce inconsistencies in the care and resources allocated to those living with this condition. METHODS: A protocol has been developed to produce best practice clinical guidelines for IBM based on a combination of published research and expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we describe the proposed protocol for developing methods for producing robust and transparent clinical guidance on aspects of diagnosis, drug treatment, physical and practical management, respiration, nutrition and cardiac management, psychosocial management, and multidisciplinary care.

Disease specificity of autoantibodies to cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A in sporadic inclusion body myositis versus known autoimmune diseases.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of inclusion body myositis (IBM) can be challenging as it can be difficult to clinically distinguish from other forms of myositis, particularly polymyositis (PM). Recent studies have shown frequent presence of autoantibodies directed against cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A (cN-1A) in patients with IBM. We therefore, examined the autoantigenicity and disease specificity of major epitopes of cN-1A in patients with sporadic IBM compared with healthy and disease controls. METHODS: Serum samples obtained from patients with IBM (n=238), PM and dermatomyositis (DM) (n=185), other autoimmune diseases (n=246), other neuromuscular diseases (n=93) and healthy controls (n=35) were analysed for the presence of autoantibodies using immunodominant cN-1A peptide ELISAs. RESULTS: Autoantibodies directed against major epitopes of cN-1A were frequent in patients with IBM (37%) but not in PM, DM or non-autoimmune neuromuscular diseases (<5%). Anti-cN-1A reactivity was also observed in some other autoimmune diseases, particularly Sjögren's syndrome (SjS; 36%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 20%). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we found frequent anti-cN-1A autoantibodies in sera from patients with IBM. Heterogeneity in reactivity with the three immunodominant epitopes indicates that serological assays should not be limited to a distinct epitope region. The similar reactivities observed for SjS and SLE demonstrate the need to further investigate whether distinct IBM-specific epitopes exist.

Autoantibodies to cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A in inclusion body myositis.

OBJECTIVE: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by both degenerative and autoimmune features. In contrast to other inflammatory myopathies, myositis-specific autoantibodies had not been found in sIBM patients until recently. We used human skeletal muscle extracts as a source of antigens to detect autoantibodies in sIBM and to characterize the corresponding antigen. METHODS: Autoantibodies to skeletal muscle antigens were detected by immunoblotting. The target antigen was immunoaffinity-purified from skeletal muscle extracts and characterized by mass spectrometry. A cDNA encoding this protein was cloned and expressed in vitro, and its recognition by patient sera was analyzed in an immunoprecipitation assay. Epitopes were mapped using microarrays of overlapping peptides. RESULTS: An Mr 44,000 polypeptide (Mup44) was frequently targeted by sIBM autoantibodies. The target protein was purified, and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Mup44 is the cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A (cN1A). By immunoprecipitation of recombinant cN1A, high concentrations of anti-Mup44 autoantibodies were detected in 33% of sIBM patient sera, whereas their prevalence in dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and other neuromuscular disorders appeared to be rare (4.2%, 4.5%, and 3.2%, respectively). Low concentrations of anti-Mup44 antibodies were found in myositis as well as other neuromuscular disorders, but not in healthy controls. Three major autoepitope regions of cN1A were mapped by using microarrays containing a set of overlapping peptides covering the complete cN1A amino acid sequence. INTERPRETATION: Anti-Mup44 autoantibodies, which are targeted to cN1A, represent the first serological biomarker for sIBM and may facilitate the diagnosis of this type of myositis.

A 12-year follow-up in sporadic inclusion body myositis: an end stage with major disabilities.

Sporadic inclusion body myositis is considered to be a slowly progressive myopathy. Long-term follow-up data are, however, not yet available. Follow-up data are important with a view to informing patients about their prognosis and selecting appropriate outcome measures for clinical trials. We performed a follow-up study of 64 patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis who participated in a national epidemiological study in the Netherlands. Case histories were recorded, and manual and quantitative muscle tests as well as laboratory tests were performed at baseline and 12 years (median) after the first out-patient visit. Date and cause of death were recorded for all deceased patients. Forty-six patients died during the follow-up period, two patients chose not to participate and one patient was lost to follow-up. The remaining 15 surviving patients had a mean disease duration of 20 years and were clinically evaluated at the second time point. The mean decline in strength was 3.5 and 5.4% per year according to the manual muscle testing and quantitative muscle testing, respectively. This decline was most pronounced in the lower legs, which were also the weakest extremities. Life expectancy was normal at 81 years, but activities of daily life were clearly restricted. At follow-up, all patients were found to be using a wheelchair, seven of them (47%) being completely wheelchair-bound. Disorders of the respiratory system were the most common cause of death. In three patients, euthanasia was requested and in another three, continuous deep sedation was applied. The fact that end-of-life care interventions were used in six patients (13%) reflects the severe disability and loss of quality of life at the end stage of this disease. Sporadic inclusion body myositis is a chronic progressive disorder, leading to major disabilities at the end stage of the disease due to extensive muscle weakness.