Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

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Drug Testing - Guinea Pigs

PrayPerseverance
PrayPerseverance
I hope you all know that there is a lot of drug testing that goes on. It can be frightening being a guinea pig but if you run out of options (NO MONEY ETC) take a look at the link below.

These people need recruits (ME AND YOU) to test their drugs on.

You can search by disease etc to narrow down your list.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=polymyositis

Hope this will help someone.

If anyone knows similar sites, please post.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was just looking for information on this the past week. Thanks.
luckybee
luckybee
I participated in a large international clinical trial for the drug Rituxan. I happened to be seeing the rheumatologist who directed the trial, so he knew that I would qualify as a subject. They only accepted patients who failed treatment with the standard meds such as methotrexate, imuran, cellcept, etc. Rituxan turned out to be my miracle drug and has allowed me to taper prednisone down to 5mg, which is the lowest dose I've taken in 5+ years.

I can definitely relate to the "guinea pig" feeling, and it seemed worse for me while I was going through the trial and error approach with the standard meds. By the time I got into the Rituxan trial, though, I had been sick for 2+ years and felt really comfortable because the docs running the trial had so much more experinece with DM and PM than my local rheumy.

Based on my life-changing experience, I would highly encourage anyone to participate in a clinical trial if you have the opportunity. You'll need to occasionally check the clinicaltrials.gov links that are posted above, because you can't count on your primary rheumy to keep up with this information. He or she should, however, be able to help you get enrolled in a trial if you meet the necessary requirements.
~Lucky