Dermatomyositis
See also in: Cellulitis DDx,External and Internal Eye,Nail and Distal DigitAlerts and Notices
Synopsis

While the etiology remains unclear, some evidence suggests that genetically susceptible individuals with certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types mount aberrant cellular and humoral responses after exposure to infection, malignancy, or drug ingestion.
Clinical features of dermatomyositis can be categorized into cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Typical findings include a heliotrope rash, atrophic dermal papules of dermatomyositis (ADPDM, formerly called Gottron papules), shawl sign, holster sign, photosensitivity, flagellate erythema, poikiloderma, calcinosis cutis, and nail fold changes. Pruritus is also common.
Systemic manifestations of dermatomyositis include fatigue, malaise, myalgias, and the following:
- Musculoskeletal – Proximal extensor muscle group inflammation that leads to acute or subacute weakness. Patients may have difficulty getting up from a sitting position or combing their hair. The myopathy is often painless.
- Gastrointestinal – Dysphagia can be seen due to esophageal muscle involvement.
- Respiratory – Some level of pulmonary involvement will be present in 15%-30% of patients. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome are manifestations of pulmonary involvement. Dysphonia may reflect pharyngeal involvement.
- Cardiac – Tachycardia or bradycardia, bundle branch blocks, cardiomegaly, or congestive heart failure.
- Malignancy – Up to 40% of patients with the adult form may have an occult malignancy. Initial cancer screening and vigilant serial monitoring for 2-3 years post-diagnosis is strongly recommended. Chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scanning – even in the absence of symptoms – should be considered. Commonly found malignancies include colon, ovarian, breast, pancreatic, lung, and gastric cancers and lymphoma. The juvenile form does not share this risk. The presence of anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 (anti-TIF1) immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) is a biomarker for increased risk of malignancy in adults, with reported tumor rates between 20% and 65%. The presence of antinuclear matrix protein 2 (anti-NXP2) antibodies in adults is associated with a tumor rate of around 35%. Markedly elevated soluble programmed death ligand-1 (sPDL-1) levels have less reliably been associated with elevated malignancy risk.
- Autoimmune disease overlap – Dermatomyositis can occur in conjunction with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Scleroderma / CREST syndrome (calcinosis cutis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) is the most common overlap syndrome, resulting in sclerodermatomyositis.
- Antisynthetase syndrome – Fever, Raynaud phenomenon, "mechanic's hands," interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, polyarthritis, and autoantibodies to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
- Subtype – Dermatomyositis sine myositis / clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is the amyopathic or hypomyopathic form, in which dermatomyositis is clinically limited to cutaneous involvement. Muscle disease may be absent (in the amyopathic form) or detectable (in the hypomyopathic form) on muscle biopsy, MRI, or laboratory testing. Many of these patients go on to develop muscle weakness as the disease progresses.
- Subtype – Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein (anti-MDA5) antibodies are found in up to 65% of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis cases and in 10%-20% of patients with classic dermatomyositis. Their presence has been associated with the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD), rapidly progressive lung disease, and poor survival in both US and Asian studies. Anti-MDA5 antibodies have also been associated with mucocutaneous ulceration, painful palmar papules, nonscarring alopecia, panniculitis, and arthritis.
- Dermatomyositis and Degos disease are, rarely, associated.
- Dermatomyositis may be induced by medications, including hydroxyurea, penicillamine, interferon beta, and ipilimumab. Acute onset / flares of dermatomyositis have been reported in association with ingestion of IsaLean, an herbal supplement.
Codes
ICD10CM:M33.10 – Other dermatomyositis, organ involvement unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
396230008 – Dermatomyositis
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- SLE – Violaceous color, heliotrope, and extensor-limited skin disease are not seen in lupus erythematosus (LE). Digital macules and thin plaques typically do not involve the knuckles but rather are seen on interdigital skin. Pruritus is not so prominent in LE. Check anti-double stranded DNA, anti-Smith if considering LE.
- Phototoxic / photoallergic drug eruptions
- CREST syndrome – Can have overlap with dermatomyositis. Refers to a subset of patients with limited scleroderma.
- Polymorphous light eruption – Most lesions resolve within several days' time. Skin lesions are located on all sun-exposed areas, not just extensors. Violaceous color is not characteristic.
- Seborrheic dermatitis – No systemic findings. Erythema and scale in sebaceous distribution.
- Systemic amyloidosis
- Contact dermatitis
- Rosacea
- Pityriasis rubra pilaris
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma – Check for anticentromere antibodies and anti-Scl-70 antibodies. Typified by sclerotic changes in the skin not seen in dermatomyositis.
- Graft-versus-host disease – Occurs after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.
- Mixed connective tissue disease – Check for anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody. Most patients are positive for this in mixed connective tissue disease.
- Generalized morphea – Asymmetric induration, no Raynaud phenomenon, no systemic involvement.
- Polymyositis – Without cutaneous findings.
- Acute lesions of erythropoietic protoporphyria may have similar locations, especially on the dorsum of the hands, but usually there is no weakness.
- Atopic dermatitis
- Psoriasis
- Lichen planus
- HIV infection
- Acral erythema
- Cutaneous eyelid metastases – While these may appear nodular, diffuse eyelid edema with or without erythema, either unilateral or bilateral, has been reported.
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:04/22/2020
Last Updated:12/21/2021
Last Updated:12/21/2021

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Dermatomyositis
See also in: Cellulitis DDx,External and Internal Eye,Nail and Distal Digit