Damage extent and predictors in adult and juvenile dermatomyositis and polymyositis as determined with the myositis damage index.
OBJECTIVE
We undertook this study to validate the Myositis Damage Index (MDI) in juvenile and adult myositis, to describe the degree and types of damage and to develop predictors of damage.


METHODS
Retrospective MDI evaluations and prospective assessment of disease activity and illness features were conducted. Patients with juvenile-onset disease (n = 143) were evaluated a median of 18 months after diagnosis; 135 patients were assessed 7-9 months later, and 121 were last assessed a median of 82 months after diagnosis. Ninety-six patients with adult-onset dermatomyositis or polymyositis had a baseline assessment a median of 30 months after diagnosis; 77 patients had a 6-month followup evaluation, and 55 had a final assessment a median of 60 months after diagnosis.


RESULTS
Damage was present in 79% of juvenile patients and in 97% of adult patients. In juveniles, scarring, contractures, persistent weakness, muscle dysfunction, and calcinosis were most frequent (23-30%) at the last evaluation. In adults, muscle atrophy, muscle dysfunction, and muscle weakness were most frequent (74-84%). MDI severity correlated with physician-assessed global damage, serum creatinine, and muscle atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging, and in juveniles also with functional disability and weakness. MDI damage scores and frequency were highest in patients with a chronic illness course and in adult patients who died. Predictors of damage included functional disability, duration of active disease, disease severity at diagnosis, physician-assessed global disease activity, and illness features, including ulcerations in children and pericarditis in adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Damage is common in myositis after a median duration of 5 years in patients with adult-onset disease and 6.8 years in patients with juvenile-onset disease. The MDI has good content, construct, and predictive validity in juvenile and adult myositis.
Rider
Lisa G
LG
Environmental Autoimmunity Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1301, USA. riderl@mail.nih.gov
Lachenbruch
Peter A
PA
Monroe
Jason B
JB
Ravelli
Angelo
A
Cabalar
Imelda
I
Feldman
Brian M
BM
Villalba
Maria L
ML
Myones
Barry L
BL
Pachman
Lauren M
LM
Rennebohm
Robert M
RM
Reed
Ann M
AM
Miller
Frederick W
FW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009220:Myositis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index