OBJECTIVE: An inaugural set of consensus guidelines for malignancy screening in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) were recently published by an international working group. These guidelines propose different investigation strategies based on \"high\", \"intermediate\" or \"standard\" malignancy risk groups. This study compares current malignancy screening practices at an Australian tertiary referral center with the recommendations outlined in these guidelines.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed IIM patients. Relevant demographic and clinical data regarding malignancy screening were recorded. Existing practice was compared with the guidelines using descriptive statistics; costs were calculated using the Australian Medicare Benefit Schedule.
RESULTS: Of the 47 patients identified (66% female, median age: 63 years [IQR: 55.5-70], median disease duration: 4 years [IQR: 3-6]), only one had a screening-detected malignancy. Twenty patients (43%) were at high risk, while 20 (43%) were at intermediate risk; the remaining seven (15%) had IBM, for which the proposed guidelines do not recommend screening. Only three (6%) patients underwent screening fully compatible with International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies recommendations. The majority (N = 39, 83%) were under-screened; the remaining five (11%) overscreened patients had IBM. The main reason for guideline non-compliance was the lack of repeated annual screening in the 3 years post-diagnosis for high-risk individuals (0% compliance). The mean cost of screening was substantially lower than those projected by following the guidelines ($481.52 [SD 423.53] vs $1341 [SD 935.67] per patient), with the highest disparity observed in high-risk female patients ($2314.29/patient).
CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the proposed guidelines will significantly impact clinical practice and result in a potentially substantial additional economic burden.

Adult-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) is associated with an increased cancer risk within the 3 years preceding and following IIM onset. Evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for IIM-associated cancer screening can potentially improve outcomes. This International Guideline for IIM-Associated Cancer Screening provides recommendations addressing IIM-associated cancer risk stratification, cancer screening modalities and screening frequency. The international Expert Group formed a total of 18 recommendations via a modified Delphi approach using a series of online surveys. First, the recommendations enable an individual patient\'s IIM-associated cancer risk to be stratified into standard, moderate or high risk according to the IIM subtype, autoantibody status and clinical features. Second, the recommendations outline a \'basic\' screening panel (including chest radiography and preliminary laboratory tests) and an \'enhanced\' screening panel (including CT and tumour markers). Third, the recommendations advise on the timing and frequency of screening via basic and enhanced panels, according to risk status. The recommendations also advise consideration of upper or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, nasoendoscopy and 18F-FDG PET-CT scanning in specific patient populations. These recommendations are aimed at facilitating earlier IIM-associated cancer detection, especially in those who are at a high risk, thus potentially improving outcomes, including survival.

Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is an immune-modulating biologic therapy that is increasingly being used in neuromuscular disorders despite the paucity of high-quality evidence for various specific diseases. To address this, the AANEM created the 2009 consensus statement to provide guidance on the use of IVIG in neuromuscular disorders. Since then, there have been several randomized controlled trials for IVIG, a new FDA-approved indication for dermatomyositis and a revised classification system for myositis, prompting the AANEM to convene an ad hoc panel to update the existing guidelines.New recommendations based on an updated systemic review of the literature were categorized as Class I-IV. Based on Class I evidence, IVIG is recommended in the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in adults, multifocal motor neuropathy, dermatomyositis, stiff-person syndrome and myasthenia gravis exacerbations but not stable disease. Based on Class II evidence, IVIG is also recommended for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and pediatric GBS. In contrast, based on Class I evidence, IVIG is not recommended for inclusion body myositis, post-polio syndrome, IgM paraproteinemic neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy that is idiopathic or associated with tri-sulfated heparin disaccharide or fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 autoantibodies. Although only Class IV evidence exists for IVIG use in necrotizing autoimmune myopathy, it should be considered for anti-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase myositis given the risk of long-term disability. Insufficient evidence exists for the use of IVIG in Miller-Fisher syndrome, IgG and IgA paraproteinemic neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, chronic autoimmune neuropathy, polymyositis, idiopathic brachial plexopathy and diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy.

The ACR-EULAR Myositis Response Criteria (MRC) were developed as a composite measure using absolute percentage change in six core set measures (CSMs). We aimed to further validate the MRC by assessing the contribution of each CSM, frequency of strength vs extramuscular activity improvement, representation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), and frequency of CSM worsening.
Data from adult dermatomyositis/polymyositis patients in the rituximab (n = 147), etanercept (n = 14), and abatacept (n = 19) trials, and consensus patient profiles (n = 232) were evaluated. The Total Improvement Score (TIS), number of improving vs worsening CSMs, frequency of improvement with and without muscle-related CSMs, and contribution of PROM were evaluated by MRC category. Regression analysis was performed to assess contribution of each CSM to the MRC.
Of 412 adults with dermatomyositis/polymyositis, there were 37%, 24%, 25%, and 14% with no, minimal, moderate, and major MRC improvement, respectively. The number of improving CSMs and absolute percentage change in all CSMs increased by improvement category. In minimal-moderate improvement, only physician-reported disease activity contributed significantly more than expected by MRC. Of patients with at least minimal improvement, 95% had improvement in muscle-related measures and a majority (84%) had improvement in PROM. Patients with minimal improvement had worsening in a median of 1 CSM, and most patients with moderate-major improvement had no worsening CSMs. Physician assessment of change generally agreed with MRC improvement categories.
The ACR-EULAR MRC performs consistently across multiple studies, further supporting its use as an efficacy end point in future myositis therapeutic trials.

The 2016 ACR-EULAR Response Criteria for JDM was developed as a composite measure with differential weights of six core set measures (CSMs) to calculate a Total Improvement Score (TIS). We assessed the contribution of each CSM, representation of muscle-related and patient-reported CSMs towards improvement, and frequency of CSM worsening across myositis response criteria (MRC) categories in validation of MRC.
Data from JDM patients in the Rituximab in Myositis trial (n = 48), PRINTO JDM trial (n = 139), and consensus patient profiles (n = 273) were included. Observed vs expected CSM contributions were compared using Sign test. Characteristics of MRC categories were compared by Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni adjustment. Spearman correlation of changes in TIS and individual CSMs were examined. Agreement between physician-assessed change and MRC categories was evaluated by weighted Cohen\'s kappa.
Of 457 JDM patients with IMACS CSMs and 380 with PRINTO CSMs, 9-13% had minimal, 19-23% had moderate and 41-50% had major improvement. The number of improved and absolute percentage change of CSMs increased by MRC improvement level. Patients with minimal improvement by MRC had a median of 0-1 CSM worsened, and those with moderate/major improvement had a median of zero worsening CSMs. Of patients improved by MRC, 94-95% had improvement in muscle strength and 93-95% had improvement in ≥1 patient-reported CSM. IMACS and PRINTO CSMs performed similarly. Physician-rated change and MRC improvement categories had moderate-to-substantial agreement (Kappa 0.5-0.7).
The ACR-EULAR MRC perform consistently across multiple studies, supporting its further use as an efficacy end point in JDM trials.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), a group of heterogenous autoimmune diseases, are characterized by proximal, skeletal muscle involvement of chronic immunological pathogenesis. IIM associated interstitial lung diseases (IIM-ILDs) are the most important causes of morbidity or mortality for IIM patients. Patients with IIM-ILDs always exhibit diversity of diseases manifestations including onset pattern, diseases progress, therapeutic respond and prognosis. Hence, the diagnosis and evaluation of IIM-ILDs usually need multidisciplinary consultations. And we have to face some dilemmas, such as sophisticated choice of immunosuppressants due to limited prospective research data, and personnel and different responses to therapeutic remedy. It is an urgent task to develop a consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of IIM-ILDs for guiding the routine practice of clinicians. Experts from pulmonology, rheumatology, and radiology were organized by Respiratory Council of Chinese Research Hospital Association, and developed a consensus based on previous studies and the experts\' experiences. This consensus mainly illustrated the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and evaluation, therapeutic remedy for IIM-ILDs. After full discussion and voting by the expert group, a total of 18 recommendations were formed, including 7 recommendations on diagnosis and evaluation, and 11 recommendations on the choice of therapeutic strategies. This consensus is intended to facilitate the standardization of diagnosis and treatment of patients with IIM-ILD and promote the development of relevant clinical and basic research in China.
特发性炎性肌病（idiopathic inflammatory myopathy，IIM）是以四肢近端肌肉慢性炎症为特征性表现的一组异质性疾病。与IIM相关的间质性肺疾病（IIM-associated interstitial lung disease，IIM-ILD）是IIM患者致残和致死的重要原因之一。IIM-ILD患者的起病方式、临床表现，发展过程、治疗反应和疾病预后呈异质性。由于IIM-ILD诊断与病情评估需要多学科共同参与，免疫抑制治疗药物前瞻性研究资料有限，治疗方案的临床选择差异较大，因此亟需制定IIM-ILD诊断和治疗的共识，供临床医师在临床诊治实践中借鉴。中国研究型医院学会呼吸病学专业委员会组织国内从事IIM-ILD基础与临床研究的呼吸病学、风湿免疫学，放射学等多学科的专家，基于现有文献资料，结合专家经验，共同制定本共识。本共识主要对IIM-ILD流行病学、临床特征、诊断与病情评估、治疗药物和治疗方案等方面做了较为系统阐述。经专家讨论和投票，共形成18条推荐意见，其中7条是关于IIM-ILD诊断和评估的推荐意见，11条是关于IIM-ILD治疗药物和方案选择的推荐意见，以期规范化诊断和治疗我国IIM-ILD患者，推动开展相关的临床和基础研究工作。.

This paper introduced the following information on the purpose of the consensus, process, writing format, formation of expert opinions, and the issues that remain to be solved and reflections, hoping to provide reference for readers to understand the content of this consensus and rational choice of application.
本文针对本期发表的“特发性炎性肌病相关间质性肺疾病诊断和治疗中国专家共识”的撰写目的、撰写历程、撰写格式、专家意见形成方式、尚待解决的问题及思考进行介绍，希望为读者理解本共识的内容和合理选择应用提供参考。.

暂无摘要。

To identify clinical factors associated with cancer risk in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) and to systematically review the existing evidence related to cancer screening.
A systematic literature search was carried out on Medline, Embase and Scopus. Cancer risk within the IIM population (i.e. not compared with the general population) was expressed as risk ratios (RR) for binary variables and weighted mean differences (WMD) for continuous variables. Evidence relating to cancer screening practices in the IIMs were synthesized via narrative review.
Sixty-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. DM subtype (RR 2.21), older age (WMD 11.19), male sex (RR 1.53), dysphagia (RR 2.09), cutaneous ulceration (RR 2.73) and anti-transcriptional intermediary factor-1 gamma positivity (RR 4.66) were identified as being associated with significantly increased risk of cancer. PM (RR 0.49) and clinically amyopathic DM (RR 0.44) subtypes, Raynaud\'s phenomenon (RR 0.61), interstitial lung disease (RR 0.49), very high serum creatine kinase (WMD -1189.96) or lactate dehydrogenase (WMD -336.52) levels, and anti-Jo1 (RR 0.45) or anti-EJ (RR 0.17) positivity were identified as being associated with significantly reduced risk of cancer. Nine studies relating to IIM-specific cancer screening were included. CT scanning of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis appeared to be effective in identifying underlying asymptomatic cancers.
Cancer risk factors should be evaluated in patients with IIM for risk stratification. Screening evidence is limited but CT scanning could be useful. Prospective studies and consensus guidelines are needed to establish cancer screening strategies in IIM patients.

Infection with the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) leads to a previously unknown clinical picture, which is known as COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease-2019) and was first described in the Hubei region of China. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has implications for all areas of medicine. It directly and indirectly affects the care of neurological diseases. SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with an increased incidence of neurological manifestations such as encephalopathy and encephalomyelitis, ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, anosmia and neuromuscular diseases. In October 2020, the German Society of Neurology (DGN, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie) published the first guideline on the neurological manifestations of the new infection. This S1 guideline provides guidance for the care of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection regarding neurological manifestations, patients with neurological disease with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, and for the protection of healthcare workers. This is an abbreviated version of the guideline issued by the German Neurological society and published in the Guideline repository of the AWMF (Working Group of Scientific Medical Societies; Arbeitsgemeinschaft wissenschaftlicher Medizinischer Fachgesellschaften).