title: Juvenile dermatomyositis: clinical, laboratorial, histological, therapeutical and evolutive parameters of 35 patients.
abstract: This study was based on a prospective and a retrospective analysis of 35 patients who met Bohan and Peter criteria for juvenile dermatomyositis diagnosis. The mean follow-up time was three years ten months. Calcinosis was present in five (14.28 %) patients, cutaneous ulcers in four (11.42%), and systemic involvement in nine (27.71%) patients. All patients presented alterations in the serum levels of muscle enzymes, and all of them were submitted to muscle biopsy as a diagnostic procedure. Nine (25.71%) patients received corticotherapy prior to and 26 (74.28%) after the muscle biopsy. Chloroquine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and intravenous immunoglobulin were used in patients with poor response to corticotherapy. Continuation of cutaneous manifestations was observed in 4 (11.43%) patients, laboratorial activity in 1 (2.85%), cutaneous and laboratorial activities in 3 (8.57%). Ten (28.57%) patients were out of activity, and 17 (48.57%) in remission at study end-point, on March 2002. Two (5.71%) patients died.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unait of Pediatric Department, University of São Pablo Medical School, São Pablo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Maluf Elias
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.forename: Maria Helena Bittencurt
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sachetti
authors.forename: Maria Bernadate Dutra
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Kelly Cristina
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Moutinho
authors.forename: Mary de Souza
authors.initials: Mde S
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Clovis Arthur Almeida
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Suely Kazue Nagahashi
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Marie
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents