Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis

Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis is a topic covered in the Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.

To view the entire topic, please or purchase a subscription.

The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics helps you diagnose and treat hundreds of medical conditions. Consult clinical recommendations from a resource that has been trusted on the wards for 50+ years. Explore these free sample topics:

Washington Manual

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

General Principles

  • Polymyositis (PM) is an inflammatory myopathy that presents as weakness and occasionally tenderness of the proximal musculature.
  • Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy associated with proximal muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash. Gottron papules and a heliotrope rash are hallmark features of DM, but other skin manifestations may be seen.
  • PM and DM can occur alone or in association with a variety of neoplasms. Patients with rheumatic diseases such as SLE or RA can also have myositis.
  • Antisynthetase syndrome is myositis spectrum disease that is associated with several antisynthetase antibodies including anti-Jo1, anti-PL7, anti-PL12, anti-OJ, anti-EJ, anti-KS, anti-Ha, and anti-Zo. This syndrome often presents acutely with fever, arthritis, characteristic rash on the hands called as mechanics hands, and interstitial lung disease.

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or purchase a subscription --