Polymyositis and dermatomyositis historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sadaf Sharfaei M.D.[2]

Overview

In the late 19th century, polymyositis and dermatomyositis were described by different scientists. In 1916, Stertz was the first who described the association between dermatomyositis and malignancy. In 1975, Anthony Bohan and James B. Peter were the first physicians who classified polymyositis and dermatomyositis into 5 subtypes which were used for decades. By 1990, multiple myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) were discovered and described. These myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) targeting different cytoplasmic ribonucleoproteins and they are used by Love et al. to classify polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Historical Perspective

Discovery

In 1863 and 1887, Ernst Leberecht Wagner described polymyositis and dermatomyositis (also known as Unverricht-Wagner or Wagner-Unverricht syndrome) in two publications.^[1]
In 1875, Potain was the first who published a case of dermatomyositis documented in Europe.^[2]
In 1886, Urivericht was the first who described polymyositis.^[2]
In 1916, Stertz was the first who described the association between dermatomyositis and malignancy.^[3]
In 1975, Anthony Bohan and James B. Peter were the first physicians who classified polymyositis and dermatomyositis into 5 subtypes which include:^[4]
- Primary idiopathic polymyositis (PM)
- Primary idiopathic dermatomyositis (DM)
- DM/PM associated with neoplasia
- Childhood DM/PM associated with vasculitis
- DM/PM with associated collagen-vascular disease
By 1990, seven myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) were discovered and described. These myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) targeting different cytoplasmic ribonucleoproteins including:
- Helicase protein (Mi2)
- Signal recognition particle (SRP)
- Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases such as:
  - Histidyl (Jo1)
  - Threonyl (PL-7)
  - Alanyl (PL-12)
  - Glycyl (EJ)
  - Isoleucyl (OJ)
In 1991, Love et al. proposed another classification of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy based on myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA).

References

↑ Keitel, W.; Wolff, H.-P. (2015). “Erstbeschreiber und Namensgeber der Dermatomyositis”. Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie. 75 (4): 429–434. doi:10.1007/s00393-015-0008-8. ISSN 0340-1855.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Dalakas, Marinos C; Hohlfeld, Reinhard (2003). “Polymyositis and dermatomyositis”. The Lancet. 362 (9388): 971–982. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14368-1. ISSN 0140-6736.
↑ Tiniakou, Eleni; Mammen, Andrew L. (2015). “Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies and Malignancy: a Comprehensive Review”. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 52 (1): 20–33. doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8511-x. ISSN 1080-0549.
↑ Leclair V, Lundberg IE (March 2018). “New Myositis Classification Criteria-What We Have Learned Since Bohan and Peter”. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 20 (4): 18. doi:10.1007/s11926-018-0726-4. PMC 5857275. PMID 29550929.

[KeitelWolff2015-1] Keitel, W.; Wolff, H.-P. (2015). “Erstbeschreiber und Namensgeber der Dermatomyositis”. Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie. 75 (4): 429–434. doi:10.1007/s00393-015-0008-8. ISSN 0340-1855.

[DalakasHohlfeld2003-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Dalakas, Marinos C; Hohlfeld, Reinhard (2003). “Polymyositis and dermatomyositis”. The Lancet. 362 (9388): 971–982. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14368-1. ISSN 0140-6736.

[TiniakouMammen2015-3] Tiniakou, Eleni; Mammen, Andrew L. (2015). “Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies and Malignancy: a Comprehensive Review”. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 52 (1): 20–33. doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8511-x. ISSN 1080-0549.

[pmid29550929-4] Leclair V, Lundberg IE (March 2018). “New Myositis Classification Criteria-What We Have Learned Since Bohan and Peter”. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 20 (4): 18. doi:10.1007/s11926-018-0726-4. PMC 5857275. PMID 29550929.

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