title: Outcome in juvenile dermatomyositis.
abstract: The clinical features, outcome and complications of juvenile dermatomyositis were studied in a tertiary care hospital by retrospective analysis of case records. Nineteen patients were treated over an 11-year period. Median age at diagnosis was 12 years (2.5-16 years). Median duration of disease prior to diagnosis was 12 months (2-96 months). Proximal muscle weakness was seen in all 19 cases, neck muscle weakness in 14, pharyngeal muscle involvement in 5 and respiratory muscle involvement in 3 cases. Heliotrope rash was seen in 9 and Gottrons rash in 8 patients. Myocarditis and GI bleed were seen in 1 each while interstitial lung disease was seen in 2 patients. All except one patient received prednisolone. Methotrexate was used in 13 and azathioprine in 3 patients. Eight patients are in complete remission (CR), 8 partial remission and 2 patients had no response. Complications were calcinosis in 5, contractures in 2, TB in 4 and pyogenic infections in 4 patients. Juvenile dermatomyositis needs to be recognised early and treated aggressively to improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rae Barielly Road, Lucknow. rnmisra@sgpgi.ac.in
authors.forename: Vaidehi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chowdhary
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakhlu
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Ramnath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome