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Open research questions in Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis

111 gap statements mined from Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 520 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • There is a need to investigate the effect of pioglitazone on muscle metabolic dysregulation in IBM patients. Prior studies have identified metabolic abnormalities in IBM patients, but the effect of pioglitazone on these abnormalities is unknown.

    Modifying muscle metabolic dysregulation in inclusion body myositis with pioglitazone: a single-arm trial · 2026 · DOI

  • This highlights the need for improved early intervention approaches and further research into long-term management strategies for JDM, especially considering that the long-term outcomes of patients treated with current early treatment strategies remain to be fully elucidated. Our findings suggest that these early strategies were insufficient for patients diagnosed during our study period.

    Use of nailfold capillaroscopy for evaluation of disease activity in juvenile dermatomyositis: Results of a two-center retrospective study · 2026 · DOI

  • The first deltoid biopsy was insufficient to establish a diagnosis, likely due to the focal and asymmetric histopathological involvement typical of RBM.

    Novel FHL1 Mutation Associated With Reducing Body Myopathy · 2026 · DOI

  • The case report lacks long-term follow-up to determine the effect of anesthetic management on disease progression. The study has a small sample size, with only one patient. The study does not provide a control group for comparison.

    Cesarean delivery in a patient with inclusion body myositis: is general anesthesia safe? A case report · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies on the use of general anesthesia in IBM patients undergoing cesarean delivery. There is a need for more research on the safety and feasibility of general anesthesia in IBM patients.

    Cesarean delivery in a patient with inclusion body myositis: is general anesthesia safe? A case report · 2026 · DOI

  • The diagnosis of dermatomyositis can be challenging when classic cutaneous features are absent. Overlap phenotypes, such as PM/Scl-positive overlap myositis, are not well understood and can delay recognition.

    Rash-Negative Dermatomyositis-Spectrum Overlap Myositis With PM/Scl Positivity Presenting With Progressive Pharyngeal Dysphagia · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between anti-Ro52 antibodies and interstitial lung disease. Future research should examine the potential of anti-Ro52 antibodies as a biomarker for identifying patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies who are at risk of developing interstitial lung disease.

    Antibodies against Ro52 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are associated with objective sicca symptoms · 2026 · DOI

  • The association between anti-Ro52 antibodies and objective sicca symptoms in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies is not well understood. The clinical phenotype of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies is not fully characterized.

    Antibodies against Ro52 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are associated with objective sicca symptoms · 2026 · DOI

  • PET-CT may therefore represent a useful adjunctive tool in selected complex cases, although its role in dermatomyositis remains to be further defined.

    Dermatomyositis With Necrotizing Vasculitis, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, and Extensive Calcinosis Following Delayed Diagnosis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study is limited to a single case report, which may not be representative of all MRH cases. The treatment of the patient's MRH was not effective in improving symptoms, despite the use of surgery and chemotherapy for the associated bladder cancer.

    Malignancy-associated Multicentric Reticulohistocytosis Mimicking Dermatomyositis-like Features, with a Significant Ultrasound Finding · 2026 · DOI

  • The diagnosis of MRH can be challenging due to similarities with autoimmune diseases. The treatment of MRH is not well established, and the use of surgery and chemotherapy for associated malignancies may not always be effective.

    Malignancy-associated Multicentric Reticulohistocytosis Mimicking Dermatomyositis-like Features, with a Significant Ultrasound Finding · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate the mechanisms by which myositis-specific autoantibodies contribute to the development of cancer in dermatomyositis patients. Studies should explore the potential of myositis-specific autoantibodies as biomarkers for malignancy risk in dermatomyositis patients.

    Malignancy Risk and Myositis-Specific Autoantibodies in Dermatomyositis: A Comprehensive Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of GZMB+CD4+ CTLs in the pathogenesis of DM and ASS. The clinical utility of GZMB+CD4+ CTLs as a biomarker for DM and ASS should be further evaluated. The potential of targeting GZMB+CD4+ CTLs as a therapeutic strategy for DM and ASS should be explored.

    Dermatomyositis and antisynthetase syndrome disease activity is associated with the expansion of peripheral GZMB+CD4+ cytotoxic T cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The treatment of PAH in DM is challenging due to the limited understanding of the condition. The current treatment options for PAH in DM are limited, and new approaches are needed. The patient's condition was complicated by the presence of refractory cutaneous ulcers and PAH.

    Improvement of Refractory Cutaneous Ulcers and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Following Rituximab and Mycophenolate Mofetil Therapy in Anti-melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 (Anti-MDA5) Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study is limited to a single case report, and further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of the treatment approach. The patient's anti-MDA5 antibody levels were not serially assessed during the active phase, making it difficult to evaluate the relationship between changes in antibody levels and clinical improvement.

    Improvement of Refractory Cutaneous Ulcers and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Following Rituximab and Mycophenolate Mofetil Therapy in Anti-melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 (Anti-MDA5) Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis · 2026 · DOI

  • The diagnosis of dermatomiositis por anti-MDA5 can be challenging due to its rarity and nonspecific clinical features. The treatment of hepatic involvement in these patients can be difficult due to the lack of effective therapies.

    Esteatosis hepática en la presentación inicial de dos pacientes con dermatomiositis por anti-MDA5 · 2026 · DOI

  • The pathophysiology of hepatic involvement in dermatomiositis por anti-MDA5 is not fully understood. There is a need for further studies to investigate the relationship between hepatic involvement and patient outcomes.

    Esteatosis hepática en la presentación inicial de dos pacientes con dermatomiositis por anti-MDA5 · 2026 · DOI

  • The small cohort size limited the development and testing of the model. The lack of availability of anti-MDA5 antibody testing results during the early admission period. The need to develop a model that can predict respiratory failure using readily accessible clinical and laboratory indicators.

    A transfer learning-based multimodal model for early prediction of 90-day respiratory failure in dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease · 2026 · DOI

  • Because panniculitis was diagnosed radiologically rather than histopathologically and inflammatory arthritis was limited to a The precise mechanism responsible for pancreatic enzyme-mediated musculoskeletal injury remains incompletely understood. To our knowledge, very few reports have documented this combination of findings with comprehensive clinicoradiological correlation.

    Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Presenting With Extensive Unilateral Lower Limb Myositis, Fasciitis, and Sterile Reactive Knee Synovitis: A Rare Extra-pancreatic Manifestation · 2026 · DOI

  • Self-efficacy (SE) is central to chronic disease self-management but remains poorly characterized in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

    Self-efficacy in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: associated factors, profiles, and patient-reported outcomes · 2026 · DOI

  • Comorbidities are associated with morbidity, function, and survival in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), but subtype-specific patterns, mental-physical comorbidity relationships, and patient-reported outcomes remain incompletely characterized.

    Mental- and physical-health comorbidity are strongly associated in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a multinational cross-sectional e-survey · 2026 · DOI

  • IBM is a progressive muscle disease with limited treatment options. Metabolic dysfunction is a key feature of IBM. The study was terminated early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Modifying muscle metabolic dysregulation in inclusion body myositis with pioglitazone: a single-arm trial · 2026 · DOI

  • Anti-MDA5 antibody testing is not consistently available across different regions. Routine testing is not always immediately available, which can delay recognition of disease severity and postpone appropriate treatment.

    A transfer learning-based multimodal model for early prediction of 90-day respiratory failure in dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease · 2026 · DOI

  • The patient had a complex medical history, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, lacunar stroke, and knee osteoarthritis - The patient had no history of malignancy, autoimmune disease, or smoking - The patient had received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine several times, but the exact number…

    New-onset Anti-melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 Antibody Positive Clinically Amyopathic Dermatomyositis Following COVID-19 · 2026 · DOI

  • There are no treatment guidelines for patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive COVID-19 pneumonia - The severity of COVID-19 symptoms and death may be associated with the presence of anti-MDA5…

    New-onset Anti-melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 Antibody Positive Clinically Amyopathic Dermatomyositis Following COVID-19 · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to investigate the effect of pioglitazone on muscle metabolic dysregulation in IBM patients (“Modifying muscle metabolic dysregulation in inclusion body myositis with…”, 2026); (2) There is a lack of studies on the use of general anesthesia in IBM patients undergoing cesarean delivery (“Cesarean delivery in a patient with inclusion body myositis: is general…”, 2026); (3) Overlap phenotypes, such as PM/Scl-positive overlap myositis, are not well understood and can delay recognition (“Rash-Negative Dermatomyositis-Spectrum Overlap Myositis With PM/Scl Positivity…”, 2026); (4) Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between anti-Ro52 antibodies and interstitial lung disease (“Antibodies against Ro52 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are associated…”, 2026); (5) PET-CT may therefore represent a useful adjunctive tool in selected complex cases, although its role in dermatomyositis remains to be further defined (“Dermatomyositis With Necrotizing Vasculitis, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,…”, 2026). 111 gap statements have been mined from Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 520 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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