Preservation of in vitro muscle fiber function in dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis: a single fiber study.

Five patients with untreated dermatomyositis, five with inclusion body myositis, and 16 healthy elderly volunteer subjects (controls) underwent open (dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis) or percutaneous (controls) muscle biopsy. Biopsied muscles included deltoid, biceps and vastus lateralis. Chemically skinned single muscle fibers were activated with Ca(+2); the slack test was performed to determine maximal unloaded shortening velocity (Vo).