ABSTRACT
Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic, inflammatory disease in which characteristic cutaneous findings are associated with signs of muscle weakness and myopathy. It can affect both adults and children and can sometimes be associated with an underlying malignancy. The exact cause of DM is not known; however, several factors have been implicated. The cutaneous manifestations of DM can occur before, shortly after, or at the same time as muscle weakness, but a proportion of patients can have amyopathic dermatomyositis with no signs of muscle involvement. Bohan and Peter criteria are used most widely for diagnosis of DM where the association of typical cutaneous changes with muscle weakness confirmed by various laboratory findings helps in the diagnosis. Emergencies in DM arise due to acute exacerbation of the disease which can lead to rapid progressive interstitial lung disease or due to infection, especially pneumonia. DM is a difficult condition to treat with systemic corticosteroids being the mainstay of treatment. Steroid-sparing drugs are started in patients who do not respond to steroids or relapse while on tapering doses of steroids. Proper knowledge of the disease and a high amount of suspicion in atypical cases are very important for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
