Study of Environmental Factors in Myositis and Anti-Synthetase Syndrome in Children and Adults

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore environmental factors linked to autoimmune diseases, focusing on myositis, a condition that weakens muscles and can cause other health issues. Researchers are particularly interested in the anti-synthetase syndrome, a subtype of myositis associated with specific autoantibodies and lung disease. The study investigates whether people with this syndrome have different environmental exposures before disease onset compared to other myositis patients and healthy volunteers. Participants will undergo a detailed medical history review and physical exam, provide blood, urine, and house dust samples, and complete questionnaires about exposures at work, home, and elsewhere. Those with myositis will be asked about infections, intense physical activity, sun exposure, tobacco and alcohol use, and stress before diagnosis. Healthy volunteers will answer similar questions matched to the diagnosis date of their paired myositis participant. Dust samples will be collected using a vacuum filter kit for potential future analysis. Additional clinical tests like lung function and imaging may be performed as needed. Throughout the study, participants will provide samples and complete questionnaires to capture medical history and environmental exposure details. Researchers will also collect clinical, laboratory, and immunologic data to assess disease manifestations and severity. Some participants may undergo chest x-rays, CT scans, pulmonary function tests, and biopsies if clinically indicated. Blood and dust samples will be stored for current and future studies. The study involves participants aged 2 to 100 years, including healthy volunteers without autoimmune diseases.

Environmental Risk Factors for the Anti-synthetase Syndrome