| Define: | A myositis that results_in inflammation located_in muscle or located_in skin where a skin rash is often seen prior to the onset of muscle weakness. The disease may result from either a viral infection or an autoimmune reaction. | A subacute or chronic inflammatory disease of muscle and skin, marked by proximal muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash. The illness occurs with approximately equal frequency in children and adults. The skin lesions usually take the form of a purplish rash (or less often an exfoliative dermatitis) involving the nose, cheeks, forehead, upper trunk, and arms. The disease is associated with a complement mediated intramuscular microangiopathy, leading to loss of capillaries, muscle ischemia, muscle-fiber necrosis, and perifascicular atrophy. The childhood form of this disease tends to evolve into a systemic vasculitis. Dermatomyositis may occur in association with malignant neoplasms. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1405-6) |
| Alias: | Polymyositis with skin involvement//dermatopolymyositis | Dermatomyositis//Dermatopolymyositis//Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis//Polymyositis Dermatomyositis//Dermatomyositis, Adult Type//Adult Type Dermatomyositis//Dermatomyositis, Childhood Type//Childhood Type Dermatomyositis//Juvenile Dermatomyositis//Dermatomyositis, Juvenile//Juvenile Myositis//Myositis, Juvenile |