title: Oral manifestations as important symptoms for juvenile dermatomyositis early diagnosis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy of childhood and adolescence, characterized by symmetrical weakness of proximal muscles and classical cutaneous features. Literature reports rarely describe or focus on oral lesions that are associated with this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case describes a 4-year-old girl in whom the oral lesions were the initial manifestations of JDM. Physical examination revealed characteristic skin manifestations, proximal muscle weakness, extensive calcinosis, necrotic ulceration, complicated erysipelas, and diffuse alopecia. The diagnosis was established based on the clinical, histological, electroneuromyography, and biochemical findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of gingival telangiectases as an important diagnostic marker of JDM leads us to suggest that identifying oral manifestations, which may be carried out by a paediatric dentist, contributes in establishing an early diagnosis and an immediate treatment of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil. lets.mg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Letícia Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: José Ribamar Sabino
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bezerra-Júnior
authors.forename: Manuel Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gordón-Núñez
authors.forename: Silvana Amado
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Libério
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Fátima Vasconcelos Pereira
authors.forename: Maria Carmen Fontoura Nogueira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: da Cruz
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005929:Glossitis, Benign Migratory / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000209:etiology; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology*