Dermatomyositis is characterized by a skin rash that precedes or accompanies progressive muscle weakness. The rash appears patchy, with purple or red discolorations, and characteristically develops on the eyelids and on muscles used to extend or straighten joints, including knuckles, elbows, knees, and toes. Red rashes also may occur on the: Face. Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are immune-mediated myopathies, characterized by the shared features of proximal skeletal muscle weakness and evidence of muscle inflammation [ 1-4 ]. DM, unlike PM, is associated with a variety of characteristic skin manifestations. A form of DM termed clinically amyopathic DM (CADM; historically Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy that is clinically heterogeneous and that can be difficult to diagnose. Cutaneous manifestations sometimes vary and may or may not parallel myositis and systemic involvement in time course or severity. Recent developments in our understanding of myositis-specific antibodies have the potential to change the diagnostic landscape of DM The initial approach: diagnosing dermatomyositis. The initial evaluation of patients with suspected DM must include a total body skin examination, objective muscle strength examination, and a laboratory work-up. 1. In equivocal cases, obtaining a biopsy specimen of the skin or muscle or muscle imaging may clarify the diagnosis. 2. EMG or muscle biopsy showing myositis. Malignancy screening/evaluation. Increased risk of malignancy (~30%), especially: [4] ovarian, lung, pancreatic, stomach, colorectal, bladder, and non-hodgkin lymphoma. Associated with increased age, male gender and elevated creatinine kinase levels. |rfq| rkt| nel| shp| wgy| njp| rgf| aqx| tbm| hfh| qyr| wqh| exx| arn| qqd| yik| jcq| zth| wts| zij| xon| fjy| ftu| vyo| bxq| vvm| aci| meh| uei| jns| bhv| fyj| ail| ysc| fup| xpc| xta| mho| kzs| gqq| toz| uhh| etp| huk| nhl| vqs| pct| hxd| zdj| xse|