What are the recommended first-line treatments for a patient diagnosed with polymyositis?

For a patient diagnosed with polymyositis, the recommended first-line treatment typically involves corticosteroids (Sasaki and Kohsaka, 2018). These are often initiated at high doses to control inflammation and muscle weakness (Sasaki and Kohsaka, 2018). In many cases, immunosuppressive agents are used in conjunction with corticosteroids, or as steroid-sparing therapies, to manage the condition effectively (Sasaki and Kohsaka, 2018). For instance, prednisolone, a corticosteroid, has been studied in combination with immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus or cyclosporin A for the treatment of polymyositis, particularly when associated with interstitial lung disease (Fujisawa et al., 2021). While specific UK guidelines for first-line polymyositis treatment were not provided in the context, the general approach in current literature emphasizes corticosteroids as foundational therapy, often combined with other immunosuppressants (Sasaki and Kohsaka, 2018; Fujisawa et al., 2021).