Therapy for myositis.

The mainstay of therapy for polymyositis-dermatomyositis continues to be corticosteroids either alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents. Intravenous cyclophosphamide may be beneficial in some patients, and success with cyclosporine has been reported in children with dermatomyositis. Intravenous gamma-globulin has resulted in short-term benefit for both children and adults. Other seldom-used therapies for the refractory patient with myositis include plasmapheresis, total body irradiation, and thymectomy.