Dermatomyositis

Introduction: Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis: Dermatomyositis is one of a group of acquired muscle diseases called inflammatory myopathies. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Dermatomyositis Information Page: NINDS) ... more about Dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis: A muscle disease characterized by chronic muscle inflammation resulting in progressive muscle weakness and a characteristic rash. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Dermatomyositis is available below.

Symptoms of Dermatomyositis

• Bluish-purple skin rash - rash appears on face, neck, shoulders, upper chest, elbows, knees, knuckles, and back.
• Hardened bumps of calcium deposits under the skin
• Muscle weakness - leads to various symptoms
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Difficulty rising from chair

See full list of 120 symptoms of Dermatomyositis

Medical Textbooks Online about Dermatomyositis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Less Common Symptoms of Dermatomyositis

• Loss of tendon reflex
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Blistering hives
• Erythema nodosum
• Loss of tendon reflex

See full list of 6 occasional symptoms of Dermatomyositis

Diagnostic Tests for Dermatomyositis

• Physical examination - looking for the pattern of muscles afflicted.
• Blood tests for muscle enzymes
• Muscle biopsy
• Electromyography

Read more about tests for Dermatomyositis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Dermatomyositis?

• Misdiagnosis of Dermatomyositis
• Underlying causes of Dermatomyositis (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Dermatomyositis

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Dermatomyositis

Causes of Dermatomyositis

• Certain cancers

Read more about causes of Dermatomyositis

More information about causes of Dermatomyositis:

• Triggers for Dermatomyositis
• Underlying causes of Dermatomyositis
• Dermatomyositis as a complication caused by other conditions
• Dermatomyositis as a symptom

Treatments for Dermatomyositis

• Corticosteroids
• Prednisone
• Immunosuppressants
• Azathioprine
• Methotrexate

See full list of 10 treatments for Dermatomyositis

Videos for Dermatomyositis

Patient Surveys for Dermatomyositis

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Dermatomyositis
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Prognosis for Dermatomyositis

Prognosis for Dermatomyositis: 20% die in first year in extreme cases, 5-16 years survival in children is 75%, 2 to several years survival in chronic forms, cancer removal may cure the condition

More about prognosis of Dermatomyositis

Reseach about Dermatomyositis

Visit our research pages for current research about Dermatomyositis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Dermatomyositis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Dermatomyositis include:

• Myositis in Children - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Efficacy and Safety Study of GB-0998 for Treatment of Steroid-Resistant Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (PM/DM) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (Venoglobulin-IH)
• Study and Treatment of Inflammatory Muscle Diseases - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Methimazole to Treat Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Safety and Effectiveness of h5G1.1-mAb for Dermatomyositis - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - h5G1.1-mAb

See full list of 42 Clinical Trials for Dermatomyositis

Statistics for Dermatomyositis

• Medical statistics for Dermatomyositis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Dermatomyositis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Dermatomyositis
• Society statistics for Dermatomyositis

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Dermatomyositis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about Dermatomyositis

NINDS Dermatomyositis Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Dermatomyositis is one of a group of acquired muscle diseases called inflammatory myopathies. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Dermatomyositis Information Page: NINDS)

NINDS Polymyositis Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Polymyositis is an inflammatory muscle disease that causes varying degrees of decreased muscle power. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Polymyositis Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Dermatomyositis:

Progressive condition characterized by symmetric proximal muscular weakness with elevated serum levels of muscle enzymes and a skin rash, typically a purplish-red erythema on the face, and edema of the eyelids and periorbital tissue; affected muscle tissue shows degeneration of fibers with a chronic inflammatory reaction; occurs in children and adults, and in the latter may be associated with visceral cancer or other disorders of connective tissue. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and selling accompanied by skin rash affecting cheeks and eyelids and neck and chest and limbs; progression and severity vary among individuals - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Dermatomyositis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Dermatomyositis, or a subtype of Dermatomyositis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Dermatomyositis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet