ABSTRACT
While it is the most common inflammatory myopathy among middle-aged and elderly people, sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) presents as the most challenging disease to diagnose. The prevalence of IBM varies greatly depending on geographical, ethnic and age factors. Frequency of the disease incidence among the general population ranges from 1:1,000,000 to 1:14,000. Over the past 50 years, it has tripled. The etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms of IBM have not yet been fully studied and, therefore, the criteria for diagnosis and treatment have not been fully established. A treatment algorithm developed for other inflammatory myopathies is not effective in IBM. Thus, the aim of this work is to review, summarize and analyze the latest medical literature on etiopathogenesis, clinical phenotypes, global prevalence, genetic predisposition, diagnostic criteria and treatment trends for IBM, which will contribute to the improvement and practical application of current diagnostic and therapeutic methods of the disease.
