Investigating Genes in Patients With Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (UKMYONET)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01171573 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : July 28, 2010
Last Update Posted : September 22, 2021
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Polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and inclusion body myositis (IBM)belong to a group of inflammatory muscle disorders, of unknown cause, that are characterised by skeletal muscle inflammation and progressive muscular weakness, which can be debilitating and chronic in nature (occasionally fatal).
The current treatment options for these conditions are steroids and various other immunosuppressive drugs. However, these are usually only partially effective at reducing symptoms, and their toxic side effects also limit their usefulness. In order to develop more specific treatments for myositis in the future (and therefore more effective), it is important to understand the exact mechanisms that cause the disease in the first instance. In other similar inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus (SLE), it is known that changes to the Human Leukocyte Antigen(HLA), as well as certain inflammatory cytokines, are involved in both the development and expression of the disease.
As many of the inflammatory mechanisms that cause damage in PM, DM and IBM are similar to those in RA and SLE, it seems likely that similar genetic factors will also be involved in the development and expression of PM, DM and IBM.
In order to understand the genetic aspects / causes of myositis, and ultimately develop more effective treatment therapies in the future, patients with PM, DM or IBM, will be asked to give 20 mls of blood. These blood samples, along with the patient's clinical details, will then be sent to the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research (CIGMR), at The University of Manchester, where all of the genetic analyses will take place. By understanding the genetic cause of the disease, it should be possible to design specific drugs for treating the condition in the future.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Myositis | Procedure: Venepuncture |
In order to understand the genetic aspects / causes of myositis, and ultimately develop more effective treatment therapies, it will be necessary to collect blood samples and clinical details from around 1000 patients with myositis. As the condition is very rare, it will not be possible to get the required number of patients from one centre alone, and therefore, a collaborative, multicentred approach will be needed. Consultant rheumatologists and neurologists throughout the UK, who have patients with PM, DM or IBM, will be approached, and asked if they would like to officially enter into the myositis genomic multicentred study. Once ethical and R&D approval has been granted, consultants will be named as the 'Principal Investigators' at each of these 'research sites' and could then start to recruit suitable patients into the study.
Patients from each research site, with definite PM, DM or IBM, will be asked by their own consultants (Principal Investigator) to give 20 mls of blood via venepuncture for genetic and antibody analysis. The PI will also complete a clinical/laboratory proforma, for each patient, regarding their disease characteristics, to allow subsequent confirmation that patients' disease is indeed definite, and this proforma and the blood sample will be sent to CIGMR. All of the genetic analyses, will take place at CIGMR, but storage of clinical details and certain patient identifiers will be stored at SRFT on a password protected NHS tust computer.
This study will be co-ordinated by Dr RG Cooper through the Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT), and Professor Bill Ollier from the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research unit (CIGMR), Stopford Building, Manchester University.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 1000 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Control |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Identification of Disease Susceptibility Genes Associated With Development and Clinical Characteristics of Primary Inflammatory Muscle Diseases, PM, DM and IBM. |
Study Start Date : | January 2001 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2030 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2030 |

Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Myositis Patients
Cases with myositis PM DM IBM Venepuncture
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Procedure: Venepuncture
Venepuncture - Taking blood |
Healthy controls
Control
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Procedure: Venepuncture
Venepuncture - Taking blood |
- To identify any disease susceptibility genes associated with development and clinical characteristics of primary inflammatory muscle diseases, PM, DM and IBM. [ Time Frame: 20 years ]Blood sample, DNA analysis, along with clinical data, matching genotype with phenotype
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
Cases must fulfil Bohan and Peter Diagnostic Criteria for Adult PM/DM
- Symmetrical weakness of limb-girdle muscles and/or anterior neck flexors.
- Muscle biopsy evidence typical of myositis.
- Elevation of serum skeletal muscle enzymes.
- Typical EMG features of myositis.
- Typical DM rash, including:
Probable / definite PM: at least 3 of items 1-4 +ive. Probable / definite DM: item 5 & at least 2 of items 1-4 +ive.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients below the age of 18 years
- Patients with myositis secondary to alcohol or drug abuse, non abusive drug ingestion (e.g with statins, fibrates etc)
- Patients with myositis following a recent viral illnesses.
- Patients unable to consent for themselves due to diminished mental capacity
- Patients that can not speak sufficiently good English.
- Patients unwilling to give blood sample.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01171573
Contact: Bill Ollier, BSC Zoology | 0161 2755622 | bill.ollier@manchester.ac.uk | |
Contact: Robert G Cooper, MD | 0161 206 1483 ext 61483 | robert.cooper@liverpool.ac.uk |
United Kingdom | |
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust | Recruiting |
Manchester, United Kingdom, M6 8HD | |
Contact: Paul New, MPHARM 0161 2064295 ext 64295 paul.new@srft.nhs.uk | |
Principal Investigator: Robert G Cooper, MD |
Principal Investigator: | Robert Dr Cooper | SRFT |
Responsible Party: | Hector Chinoy, Senior Lecturer/Consultant Rheumatologist, University of Manchester |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01171573 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Ollier-002 |
First Posted: | July 28, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | September 22, 2021 |
Last Verified: | September 2021 |
Polymyositis Dermatomyositis Inclusion Body Myositis |
Dermatomyositis Myositis Polymyositis Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases |
Neuromuscular Diseases Nervous System Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Skin Diseases |