You searched for: “dermatomyositis
dermatomyositis
1. An autoimmune disease that commonly causes a characteristic skin rash and muscle weakness.

On rare occasions, other vital internal organs; such as, the lungs, heart, bowels, and eyes can also be damaged.

2. Involvement of some internal organs; such as, the bowels and eyes is seen more commonly in children with dermatomyositis compared to adults with this disease.

In addition, certain internal complications including calcium deposits in damaged tissue (calcification) are seen more commonly in childhood-onset dermatomyositis; however, adults with classical dermatomyositis have a relatively greater risk of developing internal cancers in association with their dermatomyositis.

2. The rash of dermatomyositis has a unique appearance and distribution over the body in that the muscle weakness is most prominent in the shoulders, hips, neck and stomach; but muscles all over the body can be affected and become weakened.

The muscles used for swallowing food can be affected by dermatomyositis resulting in a choking sensation when the patient attempts to swallow solid foods or liquids.

Some patients initially develop the skin rash but can go for 20 years or longer without experiencing muscle weakness or amyopathic dermatomyositis.

3. Etymology: Dermatomyositis consists of dermato-, "skin" and myo-, "muscles".

There are two forms of dermatomyositis: the classical form and the clinically amyopathic form or a-, "no" or "without", myopathic, "muscle disease".

  • Classical dermatomyositis consists of a characteristic skin rash and muscle weakness most often noticed initially in the shoulders and hips.
  • In clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, the skin rash can be present for long periods of time (six months or longer) without the appearance of muscle weakness.