General Information About Dermatomyositis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a systemic disease where the body's defense mechanism mistakenly attacks muscle cells and blood vessels in the skin, causing chronic inflammation.
Symmetrical muscle weakness that makes climbing stairs or raising the arms difficult, and lilac/purple-colored rashes on sun-exposed areas of the skin.
These are two key skin findings specific to the disease. The purplish redness that forms on the eyelids is called a 'Heliotrope rash'; the scaly, red bumps that appear on the outer surface of the knuckles are called 'Gottron papules'.
In a portion of adult-onset dermatomyositis cases (about 15-20%), an underlying hidden cancer (breast, lung, ovarian, etc.) may be found. Therefore, patients must absolutely undergo cancer screening.
A definitive diagnosis is made through elevated muscle enzymes (CK) in the blood, an EMG (Electromyography) showing muscle inflammation, a skin/muscle biopsy, and the measurement of disease-specific autoantibodies.
High-dose cortisone treatment is initiated to rapidly suppress the inflammation. In the long term, immune-modulating drugs like methotrexate or azathioprine are used to reduce the side effects of cortisone, along with physical therapy to maintain muscle strength.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
