Juvenile dermatomyositis; clinical and laboratory assays

ABSTRACT

Juvenile dermatomyoistis [JDMS] involves children rarely. Our purpose of this study is to detect clinical and laboratory aspects of this disorder and its treatment in Khorasan Province. A 10-years retrospective study performed on medical records of all patients with JDMS in a medical center in Mashhad. Data was analyzed with statistical measures including SPSS and Excel. 18 patients had DJMS during 10 years. There was a female to male predominance [1.25/1]. The mean age of patients was 12.1 years. Muscular weakness was the most common presenting symptom. Skin involvement including heliotrope rash and Gottron papules were detected in most patients. Elevated muscular enzymes were an important finding in many cases. EMG, and muscle biopsy in those cases performed, showed abnormal results. Seventeen [94.5%] of patients responded to oral prednisolon therapy. According to clinical manifestations and laboratory findings, in particular muscular enzyme assays, a timely diagnosis and treatment with oral prednisolon can improve the disease dramatically and reduce morbidity and mortality rates as well