Dermatomyositis
An elusive diagnosis, and one that comes with a risk of cancer - Roni Caryn Rabin
image by: The Myositis Association
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Dermatomyositis: Rare but a Troublesome Disease
We usually focus on the more common problems as we age in an attempt to promote healthy aging. However, from time to time one of us or a close friend will acquire a rare and difficult disease. Dermatomyositis fits that bill. The incidence is about 1 in every 100,000 people, so it is indeed rare.
Resources
Flex Study
We are currently enrolling adults 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with DM.
VALOR Study
The VALOR Study is a clinical study for adults (from 18 to 74 years old) with dermatomyositis who are not finding symptom relief with current treatment.
An Elusive Diagnosis, and One That Comes With a Risk of Cancer
The disease is diagnosed in just 1 in 100,000 people a year, though some experts suspect that many cases may go unidentified because it is so often mistaken for the symptoms of aging or, in women, depression. One survey found that the average patient sees seven doctors before getting the right diagnosis.
Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, characterized by the shared feature of muscle inflammation with associated proximal skeletal muscle weakness (although an amyopathic form of dermatomyositis exists). Dermatomyositis, in addition, is also associated with a variety of characteristic skin manifestations.
Finding a New ‘Normal’
Having dermatomyositis is life-changing, and you never know what your new normal is going to be.
NORD
Dermatomyositis is a type of inflammatory myopathy characterized by inflammatory and degenerative changes of the muscles and skin. Associated symptoms and physical findings may vary widely from case to case as patients may present differently.
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis – challenges in diagnosis and management
Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are different disease subtypes of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The main clinical features of PM and DM include progressive symmetric, predominantly proximal muscle weakness. Laboratory findings include elevated creatine kinase (CK), autoantibodies in serum, and inflammatory infiltrates in muscle biopsy.
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis: Disease spectrum and classification
Polymyositis (PM) and Dermatomyositis (DM) are autoimmune myopathies characterized by inflammation and weakness of proximal muscles with extra muscular manifestations. In DM there is muscle weakness associated with skin rash. Although both these disorders share some common clinical and histological features like muscle weakness, inflammatory infiltrates on muscle biopsy, but they have certain differences both in terms of presentation and patho-physiology.
Dermatomyositis: Rare but a Troublesome Disease
We usually focus on the more common problems as we age in an attempt to promote healthy aging. However, from time to time one of us or a close friend will acquire a rare and difficult disease. Dermatomyositis fits that bill.
Cure JM Foundation
Cure JM Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on finding a cure for Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) and Juvenile Polymyositis (JPM), the rare and life-threatening autoimmune diseases collectively known as Juvenile Myositis (JM).
Myositis Support and Understanding Association
Diagnosing dermatomyositis may be a long and difficult process for several reasons. Dermatomyositis is a rare disease. Rare diseases are inherently more difficult to diagnose. Do you know the saying, “When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras?” This is something doctors are taught and in many cases works well. The “horses” are the most common illnesses and the “zebras” refer to the rare diseases, like DM.
Myositis. My Living with Dermatomyositis Journal
My ongoing Journal of the trials and tribulations of living with the Autoimmune Disease Dermatomyositis. and adding a little humour along the way.
Myositis Association Australia
The typical characteristic of dermatomyositis is a skin rash (caused by skin inflammation) that precedes or accompanies progressive muscle weakness caused by muscle inflammation and there may also be lung issues. Dermatomyositis may be associated with collagen-vascular or autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
Myositis UK
Dermatomyositis can affect people of any age and gender. It affects about twice as many females as males. It also affects children (juvenile dermatomyositis) however the childhood form possibly has different underlying causes and behaves somewhat differently from the adult form. Many children can expect their disease to go away with appropriate treatment.
Sketchy
Watch a free lesson about Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis from our Immunology unit.
The Myositis Association
Dermatomyositis (DM) can affect people of any age or sex, but it is found more often in women than in men. For reasons that are poorly understood, dermatomyositis is more prevalent in African-American women. As with other types of myositis, there is no known cause or cure for dermatomyositis. Although there is not currently a cure, there are treatments that have seen success in managing symptoms.
GARD
Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin changes and muscle weakness. Symptoms can include a red skin rash around the eyelids, red bumps around the joints, and muscle weakness in the arms and legs. Muscle weakness gets worse over time and can lead to stiff joints and muscle wasting. The cause for Dermatomyositis is unknown. Diagnosis is made through a clinical exam and microscopic examination of a piece of skin and muscle.
Muscular Dystrophy UK
PM and DM are part of a range of conditions known as myositis-spectrum disorders, which also include necrotising myositis and anti-synthetase syndrome. The key feature linking these conditions together is ‘myositis’ – this means inflammation of the muscles, which can lead to weakness of the arms and legs.
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