Dermatomyositis (DM) is a connective-tissue disease related to polymyositis (PM) that is characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.
The cause is unknown, but it may result from either a viral infection or an autoimmune reaction. Some cases of dermatomyositis actually "overlap" (are combined with) another autoimmune disease such as lupus, scleroderma, or vasculitis. Because of the link between DM and autoimmune disease, doctors and...
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Dermatomyositis (DM) is a connective-tissue disease related to polymyositis (PM) that is characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.
The cause is unknown, but it may result from either a viral infection or an autoimmune reaction. Some cases of dermatomyositis actually "overlap" (are combined with) another autoimmune disease such as lupus, scleroderma, or vasculitis. Because of the link between DM and autoimmune disease, doctors and patients suspecting DM may find it helpful to run an ANA - antinuclear antibody - test, which in cases of a lupus-like nature may be positive (usually from 1:160 to 1:640, with normal ranges at 1:40 and below).
Some cases of DM are a paraneoplastic phenomenon, indicating the presence of cancer. In cases involving cancer, the cancer is usually pre-existent, with removal of the cancer resulting in remission of the DM. The onset of a rash in patients with pre-existing myositis requires investigation of the neoplastic possibility.
In his 1988...
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