Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with muscle weakness and characteristic cutaneous manifestations. The disease is a rare assembly of systemic disorders in which idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) which does not affect neuromuscular transmission is associated with characteristic skin exanthema [1–3]. Today, several autoimmune disorders are subjoined to the group of DM and polymyositis, presented with cutaneous and muscle syndrome, with unclear etiology and probably different genesis. Clinical profile of DM is heterogeneous [4], and this heterogenous character of disease is supported by [5]:
-
(a)
A strong association with malignancy [6, 7]
-
(b)
A combination with features of other connective tissue diseases [6, 8], and a high level of autoantibodies [9]
-
(c)
The existence of a separate cutaneous form without muscle damage [10]
-
(d)
The absence of autoantibodies in two-thirds of patients [9]
-
(e)
A different therapeutic response to immunosuppressive therapy depending upon the presence of high titers of antinuclear antibody (ANA) or myositis-specific autoantibody (MSAs) and malignancy [11, 12]
-
(f)
Drug induction of clinical features of DM [13]
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Dalakas M. Polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. N Engl J Med 1991; 325(21): 1487–1498.
Drake L, Dinehart SM, Farmer ER, et al. Guidelines of care for dermatomyositis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996; 34: 824–829.
Callen J P. Dermatomyositis. Lancet 2000; 355: 53–57.
Rybojad M, Ducloy G, Pricent F, et al. La dermatomyositis amyopathique de l'énfant: 5 cas. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2001; 128: 813–814.
Dourmishev LA, Dourmishev AL, Schwartz RA. Dermatomyositis: cutaneous manifestations of its variants. Int J Dermatol 2002; 41: 625–630.
Bohan A, Peter JB, Bowman RL, Pearson CM. A computer-assisted analysis of 153 patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Medicine 1977; 56: 255–286.
Manchul LA, Jin A, Pritchard K, et al. The frequency of malignant neoplasms in patients with polymyositis-dermatomyositis. Arch Int Med 1985; 145: 1835–1839.
Jablonska S, Chorselski T P, Blaszczyk M, et al. Scleroderma/polymyositis overlap syndromes and their immunologic markers. Clin Dermatol 1992; 10: 457–472.
Targoff IN. Humoral immunity in polymyositis/dermatomyositis. J Invest Dermatol 1993; 100: 116S–125S.
Euwer RL, Sontheimer RD. Amyopathic dermatomyositis (dermatomyositis sine myositis). Presentation of six new cases and review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991; 24: 959–966.
Love LA, Leff RL, Fraser DD, et al. A new approach to the classification of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: myositis-specific autoantibodies define useful homogeneous patient groups. Medicine 1991; 70: 360–374.
Gottfried I, Seeber A, Anegg B, et al. High dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in dermatomyositis: clinical responses and effect on sIL-2R levels. Eur J Dermatol 2000; 10: 29–35.
Dourmishev AL, Dourmishev LA. Dermatomyositis and drugs. Adv Exp Med Biol 1999; 455: 187–191.
Grau JM, Perea M. Dermatomyositis with features of inclusion body myositis associated with carcinoma of the bladder: a true association? Br J Dermatol 2001; 143: 645–690.
Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med 1975; 292 (part I): 344–347.
Miller F W, Rider LG, Plotz PH, Isenberg DA, Oddis C V. Diagnostic criteria for polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Lancet 2003; 362: 1762–1763.
Moenkemoeller K, Petty RE, Malleson PN, et al. What criteria do pediatric rheumatologists use to make the diagnosis of juvenile dermatomyositis? Arthritis Rheum 2001; 44: S293.
Murray KJ. Juvenile dermatomyositis: advances in understanding and management. APLAR J Rheumatol 2003; 6: 50–63.
Peloro TM, Miller O F, Hahn T F, et al. Juvenile dermatomyositis: a retrospective review of a 30-year experience. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001; 45: 28–34.
Santmyire-Rosenberger B, Dugan EM. Skin involvement in dermatomyositis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2003; 15(6): 714–722
Sontheimer RD. Dermatomyositis: an overview of recent progress with emphasasis on derma-tologic aspects. Dermatol Clin 2002; 20: 387–408.
Pachman LM. Juvenile dermatomyositis. Pediatr Clin North Am 1995; 42: 1071–1098.
Clarke AE, Bloch DA, Medsger TA, et al. A longitudinal study of functional disability in a national cohort of patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis. Arthritis Rheum 1995; 38: 1218–1224.
Ward MM, Donald F. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with connective tissue diseases. Arth Rheum 1999; 42(4): 780–789.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2009). Introduction. In: Dermatomyositis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79313-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79313-7_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-79312-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-79313-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)