Dermatomyositis (patient information): Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
*General treatment | *General treatment | ||
:*Keep a regular exercise to maintain your muscle strength. | :*Keep a regular exercise to maintain your muscle strength. | ||
:*Bedrest when you feel tied | :*Bedrest when you feel tied. | ||
:*Avoid exposure to sunshine: Use suncream and protective clothing may prevent your [[rash]] worse. | :*Avoid exposure to sunshine: Use suncream and protective clothing may prevent your [[rash]] worse. | ||
*[[Medication]]s | *[[Medication]]s | ||
| Line 45: | Line 45: | ||
:*[[Intravenous immunoglobulin]] (IVIg): High dose of [[immunoglobulin]] can inhibit the damaging antibodies to attack muscle and skin in dermatomyositis. | :*[[Intravenous immunoglobulin]] (IVIg): High dose of [[immunoglobulin]] can inhibit the damaging antibodies to attack muscle and skin in dermatomyositis. | ||
:*Antimalarial medications: These type of drugs, such as [[hydroxychloroquine]] and [[chloroquine]], can be used to trear a persistent [[rash]]. | :*Antimalarial medications: These type of drugs, such as [[hydroxychloroquine]] and [[chloroquine]], can be used to trear a persistent [[rash]]. | ||
*[[Physical therapy]]: The physical therapist can make | *[[Physical therapy]]: The physical therapist can make an exercise plan to help you maintain and improve muscle strength and flexibility. | ||
==Diseases with similar symptoms== | ==Diseases with similar symptoms== | ||
Revision as of 14:35, 27 April 2010
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
What is dermatomyositis?
How do I know if I have dermatomyositis and what are the symptoms of dermatomyositis?
The most common signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Muscle weakness, stiffness, or soreness, appearing suddenly or developing slowly over weeks or months.
- Purple or violet colored upper eyelids
- Purple-red skin rash over the face, knuckles, neck, shoulders, upper chest, and back.
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue and weight loss
- Fever
- Gastrointestinal ulcers and intestinal perforations in children
Who is at risk for dermatomyositis?
The cause of dermatomyositis is unknown. Researches demonstrate that it is associated with autoimmune disorders.
How to know you have dermatomyositis?
- Medical history and physical examination
- Blood test: Blood tests such as creatine kinase (CK) and aldolase may help diagnose dematomyositis. Patients with dematomyositis may show increased CK and aldolase levels, indicating muscle damage.
- Electromyography: During this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin needle electrode into the muscle and measure electrical activities when the patient relaxs or tightens the muscle.The doctor can identify a muscle disease by analysing these electrical activities.
- Muscle biopsy: During this procedure, the doctor removes a small piece of muscle tissue surgically and detects in the pathological lab. Under microscope, tissues of patients with dermatomyositis may demonstrate that inflammatory cells surround and damage the capillary blood vessels in the muscle.
- Muscle MRI: This image can detect subtle muscle inflammation and swelling early in the disease.
- Skin biopsy: The goal of skin biopsy is to identify the diagnosis of dermatomyositis and rule out other disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus. During this procedure, the doctor removes a small piece of skin tissue surgically and detects in the pathological lab.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if symptoms of dermatomyositis develop.
Treatment options
- General treatment
- Keep a regular exercise to maintain your muscle strength.
- Bedrest when you feel tied.
- Avoid exposure to sunshine: Use suncream and protective clothing may prevent your rash worse.
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids can decrease swelling and inflammation by suppressing the immune system. Side effects of corticosteroids may include a decreased ability against infection, worse healing in the wound and osteoporosis.
- Immunosuppressants: Immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, or azathioprine, may be used if the patient has an inadequate response or excessive sensitivity to corticosteroids.
- Cytotoxic drugs: These kind of drugs may interfere with growth of normal and neoplastic cells by cross-linking of DNA or RNA or proteins and can improve signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis. Usual drugs include cyclophosphamide and azathioprine. Side effects include marrow suppression, liver damage, nausea and vomiting.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg): High dose of immunoglobulin can inhibit the damaging antibodies to attack muscle and skin in dermatomyositis.
- Antimalarial medications: These type of drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, can be used to trear a persistent rash.
- Physical therapy: The physical therapist can make an exercise plan to help you maintain and improve muscle strength and flexibility.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for dermatomyositis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating dermatomyositis
Prevention of dermatomyositis
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dermatomyositis/dermatomyositis.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/dermatomyositis/DS00335/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332783-overview
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dermatomyositis/ds00335