Childhood polymyositis/dermatomyositis.
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.
Roberts
L J
LJ
Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas/Southwestern Medical School.
Fink
C W
CW
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