title: Childhood polymyositis/dermatomyositis.
abstract: Children with PM/DM differ in many respects from adults with PM/DM. The most characteristic and distinctive feature is the presence of a widespread vasculopathy. Although the pathogenesis is unknown, roles for both humoral and cell-mediated immunity have been proposed. Most intriguing is the evidence for a viral agent that is capable of precipitating an ongoing, immunologically mediated reaction damaging muscles and endothelial cells. Much remains to be discovered, however, regarding the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas/Southwestern Medical School.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Fink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000378:metabolism