Respiratory failure due to muscle weakness in inflammatory myopathies: maintenance therapy with home mechanical ventilation

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Re spiratory complications are a common feature, but ventilatory insufficiency is rare in these patients. We describe here three patients diagnosed with inflammatory myopathy (polymyositis) with respiratory failure due to muscle weakness who did not respond to immunosuppressive therapy. Mechanical vent ilation at home with nasal or tracheal intermittent positive pressure resul ted in improved chronic hypoventilation. This treatment improves the qualit y of life of patients with inflammatory myopathies and can be lifesaving in some cases.