title: Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis: analysis of a monocentric cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is characterized by the presence of specific cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM) without clinical signs of muscular involvement. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with CADM followed at our Rheumatology Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical charts of patients diagnosed as DM were retrospectively examined. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, instrumental, and histological features of the patients at the time of diagnosis were collected. CADM was diagnosed in the presence of DM-like rash without muscular involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 103 DM patients were identified, of these, 8 were diagnosed with CADM. Six of patients with CADM had subclinical muscle involvement, and were therefore classifiable as hypomyopathic DM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our case series, CADM represents 7.7% of the total DM. However, if investigated with instrumental methods, most patients with CADM result to have subclinical muscular involvement.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barsotti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iacopetti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripoli
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: dʼAscanio
authors.forename: Antonio Gaetano
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tavoni
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bombardieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids