Receive
e-mail news, tips and updates from MDA or ask us
a quick question.
Dermatomyositis (DM)
Definition - one of a group of muscle diseases
that involve inflammation of the muscles or associated tissues; the
inflammatory cells of the immune system attack the blood vessels that supply
muscles and skin
Cause - the cause is unclear; researchers suspect viruses or exposure to
certain drugs might trigger the misdirected immune response
Onset - childhood to adulthood
Symptoms - distinctive reddish or purplish rash; rough, scaly skin; hard,
painful calcium nodules under the skin; weakness of the muscles of the hips,
thighs, upper arms, top part of the back, shoulders and muscles that move the
neck; possible heart, respiratory and swallowing problems; possible joint pain
Progression - gradual; immunosuppressant medications often effectively
control symptoms
Inheritance - not a genetic disease, though a genetic predisposition may
exist
