Therapeutic approaches based on controlled studies in patients with polymositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM) are rather rare. It is caused by low incidence of these diseases as well as by deficiency of instruments to evaluate the treatment objectively and comparably. Pathogenic findings and number of immune abnormalities have led to the treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. Current therapeutic approaches are briefly mentioned in this short summary. New possibilities of biological therapy, namely TNF inhibition, depletion of B-cells, and trageting of complement system are discussed here more widely.

        Key words: polymyositis, dermatomyositis, anti-TNF, anti-CD20, anti-C5, treatment