Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis are rare illness
es which appear to be distinct in clinical and pathologic features, pathoge
nesis, natural history, and response to therapy. We report two patients who
first developed dermatomyositis, and then, after a disease-free interval o
f many years, developed inclusion body myositis. This may have useful thera
peutic implications for patients with dermatomyositis whose illness bocomes
refractory to treatment.