[Dermatomyositis]

Abstract

Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory disease affecting proximal skeletal muscles and the skin. The manifestation can be acute (over weeks) or chronic (over months to years). Dermatomyositis affects children as well as adults. Very helpful for the diagnosis are laboratory, clinical, EMG and histopathological tests. The disease responds positively to corticosteroid, immunosuppressive or immunoglobulin therapy. Three various cases of DM are described in this article.

Key words: dermatomyositis , symptoms, diagnostic criteria, treatment.