eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Connective Tissue Diseases

Dermatomyositis: Multimedia

Author: Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 13, 2009

Multimedia

The heliotrope rash is a characteristic and possi...Media file 1: The heliotrope rash is a characteristic and possibly pathognomonic cutaneous feature of dermatomyositis. The heliotrope flower from which the manifestation is named is pictured.
The heliotrope rash is a characteristic and possi...

The heliotrope rash is a characteristic and possibly pathognomonic cutaneous feature of dermatomyositis. The heliotrope flower from which the manifestation is named is pictured.

Heliotrope rash in a woman with dermatomyositis.Media file 2: Heliotrope rash in a woman with dermatomyositis.
Heliotrope rash in a woman with dermatomyositis.

Heliotrope rash in a woman with dermatomyositis.

Gottron papules and nail fold telangiectasia are ...Media file 3: Gottron papules and nail fold telangiectasia are present in this patient.
Gottron papules and nail fold telangiectasia are ...

Gottron papules and nail fold telangiectasia are present in this patient.

The lesions on the dorsal aspect of the hand demo...Media file 4: The lesions on the dorsal aspect of the hand demonstrate the photodistribution of dermatomyositis. Note the sparing of the interdigital web spaces.
The lesions on the dorsal aspect of the hand demo...

The lesions on the dorsal aspect of the hand demonstrate the photodistribution of dermatomyositis. Note the sparing of the interdigital web spaces.

A diffuse alopecia with a scaly scalp dermatosis ...Media file 5: A diffuse alopecia with a scaly scalp dermatosis is common in dermatomyositis.
A diffuse alopecia with a scaly scalp dermatosis ...

A diffuse alopecia with a scaly scalp dermatosis is common in dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis is often associated with a poikil...Media file 6: Dermatomyositis is often associated with a poikiloderma in a photodistribution.
Dermatomyositis is often associated with a poikil...

Dermatomyositis is often associated with a poikiloderma in a photodistribution.

The histopathologic feature of dermatomyositis is...Media file 7: The histopathologic feature of dermatomyositis is an interface dermatitis.
The histopathologic feature of dermatomyositis is...

The histopathologic feature of dermatomyositis is an interface dermatitis.

Calcinosis due to dermatomyositis in childhood ca...Media file 8: Calcinosis due to dermatomyositis in childhood can be seen in this patient who had active dermatomyositis 15 years prior to the time of this photograph.
Calcinosis due to dermatomyositis in childhood ca...

Calcinosis due to dermatomyositis in childhood can be seen in this patient who had active dermatomyositis 15 years prior to the time of this photograph.

Calcifying panniculitis in a patient with dermato...Media file 9: Calcifying panniculitis in a patient with dermatomyositis.
Calcifying panniculitis in a patient with dermato...

Calcifying panniculitis in a patient with dermatomyositis.

More on Dermatomyositis

Overview: Dermatomyositis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dermatomyositis
Treatment & Medication: Dermatomyositis
Follow-up: Dermatomyositis
Multimedia: Dermatomyositis
References

References

  1. Callen JP. Dermatomyositis. Lancet. Jan 1 2000;355(9197):53-7. [Medline].

  2. Callen JP, Wortmann RL. Dermatomyositis. Clin Dermatol. Sep-Oct 2006;24(5):363-73. [Medline].

  3. Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis (first of two parts). N Engl J Med. Feb 13 1975;292(7):344-7. [Medline].

  4. Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis (second of two parts). N Engl J Med. Feb 20 1975;292(8):403-7. [Medline].

  5. Airio A, Pukkala E, Isomäki H. Elevated cancer incidence in patients with dermatomyositis: a population based study. J Rheumatol. Jul 1995;22(7):1300-3. [Medline].

  6. Chow WH, Gridley G, Mellemkjaer L, McLaughlin JK, Olsen JH, Fraumeni JF Jr. Cancer risk following polymyositis and dermatomyositis: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark. Cancer Causes Control. Jan 1995;6(1):9-13. [Medline].

  7. Hill CL, Zhang Y, Sigurgeirsson B, et al. Frequency of specific cancer types in dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a population-based study. Lancet. Jan 13 2001;357(9250):96-100. [Medline].

  8. Sigurgeirsson B, Lindelof B, Edhag O, Allander E. Risk of cancer in patients with dermatomyositis or polymyositis. A population-based study. N Engl J Med. Feb 6 1992;326(6):363-7. [Medline].

  9. Sontheimer RD. Skin manifestations of systemic autoimmune connective tissue disease: diagnostics and therapeutics. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. Jun 2004;18(3):429-62. [Medline].

  10. Dalakas MC. Molecular immunology and genetics of inflammatory muscle diseases. Arch Neurol. Dec 1998;55(12):1509-12. [Medline].

  11. Kasteler JS, Callen JP. Scalp involvement in dermatomyositis. Often overlooked or misdiagnosed. JAMA. Dec 28 1994;272(24):1939-41. [Medline].

  12. Okiyama N, Kohsaka H, Ueda N, et al. Seborrheic area erythema as a common skin manifestation in Japanese patients with dermatomyositis. Dermatology. 2008;217(4):374-7. [Medline].

  13. Pachman LM, Veis A, Stock S, et al. Composition of calcifications in children with juvenile dermatomyositis: association with chronic cutaneous inflammation. Arthritis Rheum. Oct 2006;54(10):3345-50. [Medline].

  14. Lutz J, Huwiler KG, Fedczyna T, et al. Increased plasma thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) levels are associated with the TNF alpha-308A allele in children with juvenile dermatomyositis. Clin Immunol. Jun 2002;103(3 Pt 1):260-3. [Medline].

  15. Werth VP, Callen JP, Ang G, Sullivan KE. Associations of tumor necrosis factor alpha and HLA polymorphisms with adult dermatomyositis: implications for a unique pathogenesis. J Invest Dermatol. Sep 2002;119(3):617-20. [Medline].

  16. Daoud MS, Gibson LE, Pittelkow MR. Hydroxyurea dermopathy: a unique lichenoid eruption complicating long-term therapy with hydroxyurea. J Am Acad Dermatol. Feb 1997;36(2 Pt 1):178-82. [Medline].

  17. Noel B. Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases related to statin therapy: a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Jan 2007;21(1):17-24. [Medline].

  18. Whitmore SE, Rosenshein NB, Provost TT. Ovarian cancer in patients with dermatomyositis. Medicine (Baltimore). May 1994;73(3):153-60. [Medline].

  19. Callen JP. The value of malignancy evaluation in patients with dermatomyositis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Feb 1982;6(2):253-9. [Medline].

  20. Smith ES, Hallman JR, DeLuca AM, Goldenberg G, Jorizzo JL, Sangueza OP. Dermatomyositis: a clinicopathological study of 40 patients. Am J Dermatopathol. Feb 2009;31(1):61-7. [Medline].

  21. Ang GC, Werth VP. Combination antimalarials in the treatment of cutaneous dermatomyositis: a retrospective study. Arch Dermatol. Jul 2005;141(7):855-9. [Medline].

  22. [Best Evidence] Choy EH, Hoogendijk JE, Lecky B, Winer JB. Immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory treatment for dermatomyositis and polymyositis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Jul 20 2005;CD003643. [Medline].

  23. Edge JC, Outland JD, Dempsey JR, Callen JP. Mycophenolate mofetil as an effective corticosteroid-sparing therapy for recalcitrant dermatomyositis. Arch Dermatol. Jan 2006;142(1):65-9. [Medline].

  24. Kasteler JS, Callen JP. Low-dose methotrexate administered weekly is an effective corticosteroid-sparing agent for the treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jan 1997;36(1):67-71. [Medline].

  25. Villalba L, Hicks JE, Adams EM, et al. Treatment of refractory myositis: a randomized crossover study of two new cytotoxic regimens. Arthritis Rheum. Mar 1998;41(3):392-9. [Medline].

  26. Dalakas MC, Illa I, Dambrosia JM, et al. A controlled trial of high-dose intravenous immune globulin infusions as treatment for dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med. Dec 30 1993;329(27):1993-2000. [Medline].

  27. Woo TY, Callen JP, Voorhees JJ, Bickers DR, Hanno R, Hawkins C. Cutaneous lesions of dermatomyositis are improved by hydroxychloroquine. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 1984;10(4):592-600. [Medline].

  28. Zieglschmid-Adams ME, Pandya AG, Cohen SB, Sontheimer RD. Treatment of dermatomyositis with methotrexate. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 1995;32(5 Pt 1):754-7. [Medline].

  29. Rowin J, Amato AA, Deisher N, Cursio J, Meriggioli MN. Mycophenolate mofetil in dermatomyositis: is it safe?. Neurology. Apr 25 2006;66(8):1245-7. [Medline].

  30. Chung L, Genovese MC, Fiorentino DF. A pilot trial of rituximab in the treatment of patients with dermatomyositis. Arch Dermatol. Jun 2007;143(6):763-7. [Medline].

  31. Huber A, Gaffal E, Bieber T, Tuting T, Wenzel J. Treatment of recalcitrant dermatomyositis with efalizumab. Acta Derm Venereol. 2006;86(3):254-5. [Medline].

  32. Oliveri MB, Palermo R, Mautalen C, Hubscher O. Regression of calcinosis during diltiazem treatment in juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol. Dec 1996;23(12):2152-5. [Medline].

  33. Ambler GR, Chaitow J, Rogers M, McDonald DW, Ouvrier RA. Rapid improvement of calcinosis in juvenile dermatomyositis with alendronate therapy. J Rheumatol. Sep 2005;32(9):1837-9. [Medline].

  34. Klein RQ, Bangert CA, Costner M, et al. Comparison of the reliability and validity of outcome instruments for cutaneous dermatomyositis. Br J Dermatol. Sep 2008;159(4):887-94. [Medline].

  35. Marie I, Hatron PY, Levesque H, et al. Influence of age on characteristics of polymyositis and dermatomyositis in adults. Medicine (Baltimore). May 1999;78(3):139-47. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

dermatomyositis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, dermatomyositis sine myositis, amyopathic dermatomyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis, childhood dermatomyositis, polymyositis, vesiculobullous erosive lesions, exfoliative erythroderma, heliotrope rash, Gottron papules, poikiloderma, calcinosis

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology
Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; Genetech Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Consulting

Medical Editor

Kathleen David-Bajar, MD, Former Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, Department of Dermatology, Brooke Army Medical Center
Kathleen David-Bajar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey Meffert, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio
Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.