Dermatomyositis | Dr. Pradeepta Sekhar Patro, Rheumatologist, Odisha

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Dermatomyositis (DM)

Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disease
This is a chronic (long-term) disease affecting the muscles leading to weakness.
Sometimes DM can cause swallowing problems. It is of serious concern as it can choke a person or aspirated into lungs.
Along with muscle weakness it causes rashes over the fingers and around the eyelid
Myositis is very rare and can affect both children and middle age adult.

It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system of the body causes harm to its own healthy muscles.
Dermatomyositis is a idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM)(Ideopathic-cause is unknown,Inflammatory-immune system attacks the healthy cells,Myositis-inflammation of muscle)
The cause of this disease is not completely studied and understood.
Sometime DM is associated with underline malignancy

DM can affect anyone, but generally, it affects two age groups, the children aged 10-15 and adults aged 45-60.
Mysoisits is very rare .
There are about 2 times more chances for women to get DM than men.

People suffering from myositis observe is fatigue.
Muscle weakness comes on gradually over time.
o Difficulty in getting up from bed or chair
o Difficulty in raising the hand above the head-combing the hair
o Difficulty in getting up from squatting posture
When myositis is more severe, it causes swallowing related problems such as it can choke a person or breathe unwanted things into their lungs (aspiration).
In rare cases it can affect heart also.
Sometimes joint pain and swelling occur leading to arthritis
People with dermatomyositis sometime develop ILD (Interstitial Lung disease) leading to frequent dry cough and breathlessness (Lung inflammation)
People suffering from the disease can lose weight because of a loss of appetite
Dermatomyositis patients develop rash over the face, forehead, knuckles and back
Some individuals with myositis may suffer swelling around the eyes.

Some people can develop the fingers and toes to turn pale and discolor after an exposure to cold (raynaud’s phenomenon)

Blood Tests
o Liver function test
o CPK and LDH
o ANA titer (Hep2) and ANA profile
o Complete blood count

Common Tests to Screen for Cancer-As myositis can be associated with underlying cancer so myositis patients should be screened for cancer
Common test-
Mammogram and PAP smear for woman
CA 125 for woman
PSA blood test for men
Sometimes CT scan chest and abdomen

Dermatomyositis has no effect on fertility
Patients suffering from DM might be treated with a number of medications that can affect pregnancies including NSAIDs, anti-TNF biologics, and occasionally DMARDs.

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