Press and Media
View the latest AANEM Achievement Award winners, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Abstract Award winners, and the latest AANEM news articles on News Express.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will be content of abstracts be viewable, as opposed to just the titles?
A: The abstract content will be available at the annual meeting during the Poster Hall hours. We do not provide abstract presenter information or slides ahead of time. All available information can be found in the AANEM Abstract Guide online when it becomes available.
Q: How do I reach out to abstract or session presenters for an interview?
A: We do not offer member contact information. To connect with abstract or session presenters, review the AANEM Annual Meeting Program when available. Find the topics of interest and connect with the presenter after their lecture or during their abstract poster session time. Currently there is no interview option for virtual attendees.
Q: When can I share information?
A: The embargo on the abstracts themselves is lifted when they have been published in Muscle & Nerve and online in the AANEM Abstract Guide. However, the additional information beyond what is in the abstract itself is still embargoed.
AANEM requires information that goes beyond that which is contained within the abstract, e.g., the release of data not included in the abstract, discussion of the abstract done as part of a scientific presentation, etc. to be embargoed until the start of the annual meeting. Please see the Abstract Embargo Policy.
Q: Will the Abstract Award Reception feature the best posters?
A: The Abstract Award Reception is a social hour in honor of the abstract award winners where all authors, including award winners, will be available to discuss research.
Q: Original research is ONLY presented as posters, correct?
A: Yes - the research is presented in the Poster Hall via abstract posters.
Science News: Pediatric Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Edited by: Justin Willer, MD
Citation: Wang Y, Yang M, Zhao Y, et al. Pediatric Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study. Pediatr Neurol. 2025;167:33-41. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.03.002
Summary: Given the rarity, there remains a dearth of systematic data on pediatric immune myopathies. This is particularly true of subtypes other than dermatomyositis. This retrospective observational study of pediatric autoimmune necrotizing myopathies (IMNM) provides clinical, serologic, radiologic, pathologic, and treatment related data on a large Chinese cohort.
The group identified 116 patients through a muscle biopsy registration program. Of these, 55 (56%) were determined to have IMNM and then retrospective analysis of data was performed. The IMNM group showed a median age of onset of 7 with a female preponderance (69%) and chronic onset (60%). Initial symptoms consisted of proximal weakness (76.3%) with relatively low incidence of non-muscle manifestations (rash, arthralgia, fever, ILD).
Serologic testing showed a majority of IMNM patients with anti-HMGCR antibody (69%) and smaller proportions with anti-SRP antibody (20%) or seronegative (18%). Muscle MRI most commonly showed generalized muscle edema with lower incidence of myofascial or subcutaneous edema. Fatty replacement was also common and was correlated with SRP antibody and duration of disease. Muscle pathology most commonly showed an overall dystrophic appearance and was more common in anti-SRP antibody related disease. MHC I upregulation and sarcolemmal MAC deposition was also common.
Follow up data was available in 39 of 55 patients. All received high dose steroids and most (87%) received multiple immunotherapies (IVIg, methotrexate, rituximab, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine). Follow up data was available from between 6-90 months. While most improved in strength and muscle enzyme levels, most (24/39) were considered refractory or not responsive to treatment.
Comments: Limitations of the study include that this is a single center, retrospective, observational study. The high proportion of IMNM in this cohort may be related to selection bias versus a unique proportion of this Chinese cohort.
This is one of the largest cohort studies of pediatric IMNM and provides useful data on clinical characteristics of this relatively rare group.