Inflammatory and Immune-Mediated Myopathies, What Do We Know?

The research article focuses on investigating and reviewing the phenomenon of inflammatory myopathies in horses, which are diseases characterized by inflammation in muscle tissue due to various causes, primarily noninfectious ones like genetic or autoimmune disorders. The forms of these diseases, their causes, as well as their manifestations, are addressed in the paper.

Understanding Inflammatory Myopathies

• Inflammatory myopathies, often referred to as myositis, are diseases noted by the presence of inflammatory cellular infiltrates, primarily polymorphonuclear cells and lymphocytes, in muscle.
• This distinguishes them from most muscle diseases characterized by myodegeneration, which results in the infiltration of a different type of white blood cells – macrophages.

Causes of Inflammatory Myopathies

• These diseases can be triggered by either infectious or noninfectious causes.
• The primary focus of this article is on noninfectious causes. These noninfectious triggers can be either primary, stemming from genetic or autoimmune factors, or acquired, originating from immune-mediated diseases.

Forms of Inflammatory Myopathies

• The manifestation of the disease can be focal, affecting only one spot; multifocal, impacting several specific areas; or diffuse, spreading across a significant part of the muscle tissue.
• In terms of its progression, the disease can manifest in acute forms or can reoccur multiple times.

Scope of the Research

• The primary focus of the article is on immune-mediated myopathies in horses.
• The research does not delve into myositis cases directly resulting from infectious agents like Clostridium spp and others.