Question 1

is dermatomyositis serious?

Accepted Answer

It can be: There is a much higher risk of solid organ cancers (lung, colon for example) in patients with dm. Why this is remains unclear.

Question 2

what are symptoms of dermatomyositis?

Accepted Answer

Weakness and rash!: Dermatomyositis has characteristicc rashes: heliotrope, gottren's, etc.  A rheumatologist or dermatologist will recognize this. Proximal muscle weakness is the first evidence of muscular disease, and a doctor will check your cpk, which would be elevated. Pts may also experience raynaud's syndrome, and internal organ involvement can occur.  It is a serious disease!

Question 3

what is some info on dermatomyositis?

Accepted Answer

Skin & muscles: Dermatomyositis is a connective-tissue disease, ranging from mild to severe. Milder cases involve only inflammation of the muscles and the skin, while more severe cases also may affect the joints, esophagus, lungs, and even the heart in rare cases. Treatment is difficult but possible, and often effective in the hands of an experienced dermatologist.

Question 4

what are the tests for dermatomyositis?

Accepted Answer

Several.: While a muscle biopsy is most definitive, emgs, elevation of muscle enzymes, positive ana, reflexed to specific autoantibodies frequently seen in dm. But the clinical picture is most telling. This diseasec should be managed by a rheumatologist.

Question 5

what kind of condition is dermatomyositis?

Accepted Answer

Autoimmune: It is an autoimmune disease with the collagen vascular diseases and is treated by rheumatologist. It affects skin and muscle with proximal muscle weakness of the hips and shoulders. Diagnosis is made by muscle weakness, typical rash on face and hands, muscle biopsy , skin biopsy, and blood tests. Treatment is oral steroids and steroid sparing drugs such as cytoxan, (cyclophosphamide) imuran, methotrexate.

Question 6

how serious is dermatomyositis for someone?

Accepted Answer

Check it out: Dermatomyositis is a disease that can affect the skin, muscles.  It can range from mild to very severe.  When someone is diagnoses with dermatomyositis, the doctor should do a work up for underlying cancer, because about 25% of cases are associated with an underlying malignancy.  See a dermatologist if you have not already done so.

Question 7

is having dermatomyositis considered a disability?

Accepted Answer

No: Dm is a treatable disease, and we attempt to restore the patient's quality of life back to pre-diagnosis. Only if the conventional treatments fail do I consider having the patient apply for disability.

Question 8

with dermatomyositis what else should i be looking for?

Accepted Answer

Malignancy: Dermatomyositis can be associated with cancer 5 years prior to diagnosis or 5  years after diagnosi. A workup for breast stomach, ovary and other cancers is be essay. Discuss with treating doctor as well as side effects of medications.

Question 9

what are polymyositis  and dermatomyositis?

Accepted Answer

Muscle inflammation: Both conditions are fundamentally a reaction of the immune system that generates inflammation within the body's muscles. The main difference between dermatomyositis and polymyositis is that dermatomyositis has a unique rash but in most other clinical areas they have a rather close similarity to each other.

Question 10

if i had dermatomyositis as a juvenile, can it come back as an adult?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Was the diagnosis confirmed.

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