How do you manage a patient with inclusion body myositis?

IBM is a slowly progressive disease with no proven treatment to date, unfortunately. The goals of care are to delay decline and maintain remaining muscle strength. The cornerstone of treatment is physical/occupational therapy. Blood flow restriction seems to anecdotally help some patients, pending the results of a clinical trial in Europe. Exercise can be combined with creatine supplementation as well.

While the disease does not affect mortality, dysphagia and falls can be cause for morbidity. Sp...

I also follow Dr. @Dr. First Last's approach to IBM management.

Support groups such as The Myositis Association (TMA) are very beneficial for IBM patients and their families, given the progressive, insidious nature of this disease. It is extremely important patients be explicitly counseled about the current natural history of the disease so that they can make practical decisions about future logistics, personal finances, advanced directives, and goals of care.

Many of my IBM patients have shared...