Medical Management

Dermatomysitis (DM) is a highly treatable disease. Some people, especially children, recover completely, while others experience greatly diminished symptoms for long periods of time. Several years of treatment to suppress the immune system may be necessary to achieve these results.

Those who don’t recover completely may need to continue on at least a low dose of medication to control the autoimmune attack of DM throughout their lives.

Causes/Inheritance

What causes dermatomyositis (DM)?

In the overwhelming majority of cases, there’s no clear cause for the development of myositis.

Viruses might be a trigger for autoimmune myositis. People with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, can develop a myositis, as can people with a virus called HTLV-1. Some myositis cases have followed infection with the Coxsackie B virus.

Diagnosis

As with other muscle diseases, a doctor diagnoses dermatomyositis (DM) by considering an individual’s history, family medical history and the results of a careful physical examination. This may be followed by some lab tests, perhaps of the electrical activity inside the muscles, and usually a muscle biopsy.

Signs and Symptoms

What happens to someone with dermatomyositis?

A reddish or purplish rash and scaly, rough skin are typical in DM.

Overview

What is dermatomyositis (DM)?

Muscles affected by dermatomyositis (frontal view) Muscles affected by dermatomyositis (back view)
Description: 

MDA leads the search for treatments and therapies for dermatomyositis (DM). The Association also provides comprehensive supports and expert clinical care for those living with DM.

In this section, you’ll find up-to-date information about DM, as well as many helpful resources. This information has been compiled with input from researchers, physicians and people affected by the disease.

Going to the Emergency Room: Tips for People with Neuromuscular Diseases

When a medical emergency strikes — and the patient is a person with a neuromuscular disease— it’s not just getting to the emergency room quickly that’s critical. It’s also critical to ensure the ER staff understands the patient’s special needs caused by muscle disease.

Researchers Exploring Disability Perceptions

Researchers at the Psychology of Disability Lab at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor are exploring the social identity of people with disabilities through a short, anonymous, Web-based questionnaire.

The lab's Disability Identity Project is being headed by principal investigator Adena Rottenstein, a doctoral candidate in psychology.

The study closes the week of Aug. 22, 2011.

AAN Research Briefs on DM, DMD, LGMD, MG, MMD, SMA

Below are brief reports and links to more information about neuromuscular disease research presented at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), held in Honolulu April 9-16, 2011.

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