Myositis Program
A multidisciplinary partnership to diagnose, treat, research, and cure inflammatory myopathies.
Myositis is a group of autoimmune muscle diseases, including dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and overlap myositis. It often starts with progressive muscle weakness, fatigue, and trouble getting up from chairs, climbing stairs, or lifting objects. In some types, skin, lungs, and other organs may also be affected, and early detection and coordinated care are essential to preserve function and quality of life.
The Myositis Program at UTHealth Houston, McGovern Medical School, is a patient-centered clinic founded in 2025 to offer expert, comprehensive care for adults with inflammatory myopathies. Developed as a true collaboration between Rheumatology and Neurology, our mission is to provide state-of-the-art clinical care, advance research into disease mechanisms and treatments, and improve outcomes for people living with myositis.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation: Myositis-specific autoantibody testing, EMG/NCV, muscle MRI, muscle biopsy, pulmonary function testing.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary care with rheumatologists, neuromuscular neurologists, pulmonologists, and dermatologists to manage muscle, lung, skin, and systemic manifestations.
- Individualized treatment plans include immunomodulatory therapies, steroid-sparing strategies, and supportive care (nutritional counseling, lifestyle medicine).
- Access to clinical trials and translational research aimed at understanding disease biology and testing novel therapies.
- Longitudinal follow-up to maximize long-term function and quality of life.