A Case-control Study to Assess Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy

This study will be co-ordinated by Dr Hector Chinoy, Dr Robert G Cooper (Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust / The University of Manchester) and Dr Ian N Bruce (Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/ The University of Manchester). An initial pilot study will be completed, to establish proof of concept of the study and to examine whether trends may observed of differences between cases and controls.

Twenty five prevalent UK Caucasian adult IIM cases, confirmed by internationally accepted criteria, will be recruited via the Adult Onset Myositis clinic, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. Age, gender and race-matched controls will be recruited on a 'best friend' system. At the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (WTCRF), The University of Manchester, facilities are already available for B-mode ultrasound CIMT measurement, Endo-PAT, lean body mass measurement and contrast echocardiography. Cases and controls will have their cardiovascular risk factors assessed using a standardised questionnaire and blood tests. Further tests performed will include blood pressure, electrocardiogram, lean body mass, B-mode ultrasound CIMT measurement and Endo-PAT. IIM cases will have additional blood tests and a clinical assessment to assess their disease status, and contrast echocardiography. As part of a linked study, subjects (but not controls) will also have Gd-DTPA-MRI of the heart performed.