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Pigmented Ethnic Skin and Imported Dermatoses pp 343–352Cite as

Dermatomyositis

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Abstract

Dermatomyositis (DM), in addition to polymyositis (PM) and inclusion body myositis, is categorized as an autoimmune inflammatory myopathy. This group of disorders is characterized by the notable features of symmetric proximal skeletal muscle weakness and laboratory findings consistent with muscle inflammation. DM, unique among the group of inflammatory myopathies, also exhibits a set of distinctive and bothersome cutaneous findings and may present with other systemic symptoms such as interstitial lung disease, arthritis, dysphagia, and an increased risk for internal malignancy. Classic DM presents with skin findings, proximal muscle weakness, and laboratory or radiologic evidence of myositis. When DM occurs in the complete absence of muscular symptoms and muscle inflammation, it is known as amyopathic DM (formally DM sine myositis). The presence of DM-related skin signs with subclinical myopathy and borderline evidence of muscle inflammation is known as hypomyopathic DM [1].

P. B. Chansky and L. Mittal are first coauthors of this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Peter B. Chansky & Lavanya Mittal

  2. Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Peter B. Chansky & Lavanya Mittal

  3. Department of Dermatology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

    Cord Sunderkötter

  4. Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany

    Cord Sunderkötter

  5. Department of Dermatology, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Victoria P. Werth M.D.

Authors
  1. Peter B. Chansky
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  2. Lavanya Mittal
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  3. Cord Sunderkötter
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  4. Victoria P. Werth M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victoria P. Werth M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Free University of Berlin, Medical School Charité, Berlin, Germany

    Constantin E. Orfanos

  2. Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

    Christos C. Zouboulis

  3. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, HELIOS Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Chalid Assaf

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Chansky, P.B., Mittal, L., Sunderkötter, C., Werth, V.P. (2018). Dermatomyositis. In: Orfanos, C., Zouboulis, C., Assaf, C. (eds) Pigmented Ethnic Skin and Imported Dermatoses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69422-1_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69422-1_31

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