Table 4

 Disease course in surviving patients with follow-up of at least 2 years (n = 104)

MonocyclicPolycyclic or chronic continuous
MSA, myositis-specific autoantibodies; polymyositis, myositis defined by endomysial cell infiltrates; unspecified myositis, clinical polymyositis; with perimysial and perivascular cell infiltrates; possible myositis, clinical polymyositis with necrotising myopathy.
*Myositis-specific antibodies determined in 92 patients.
Number of patients2183
Mean age in years (SD)42 (19)42 (14)
Women, n (%)15 (71)64 (77)
Diagnosis
    Polymyositis (%)0 (0)5 (6)
    Dermatomyositis (%)10 (48)29 (35)
    Unspecified myositis (%)5 (24)34 (41)
    Possible myositis (%)6 (29)15 (18)
MSAs present (%)*7 (41)3 (41)