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Dermatomyositis

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)

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Subheadings:

Tree Number(s): C05.651.594.819.500, C10.668.491.562.575.500, C17.300.250, C17.800.185

MeSH Unique ID: D003882

Entry Terms:

  • Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis
  • Polymyositis Dermatomyositis
  • Dermatopolymyositis
  • Dermatomyositis, Adult Type
  • Adult Type Dermatomyositis
  • Dermatomyositis, Childhood Type
  • Childhood Type Dermatomyositis
  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis
  • Dermatomyositis, Juvenile
  • Juvenile Myositis
  • Myositis, Juvenile

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