Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis Flashcards
What does Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis mean?
A type of muscle AUTOIMMUNE disease called an inflammatory myopathy. It inflames your muscles and their related tissues, like the blood vessels that supply them. It can cause muscle weakness and pain, often on both sides of your body.
Myositis + skin signs
Presentation:
What happens to the muscles?
Where do they get pain?
Muscle weakness, especially proximal myopathy
Polyarthritis
Skin and hand signs in dermatomyositis:
What colour rash do they get around their eyes?
Why do they get a puffiness to their eyes?
What are Gottron’s papules and where do they occur?
They get a v sign on their chest. What is it?
Pink-purple rash - heliotrope
Periorbital oedema
Scaly red patched on knuckles
A red rash on the neck and chest - look up
Muscle weakness can result in organ dysfunction.
What would it cause in the oesophagus? - 2
What would it cause in the lungs?
Dysphagia
Reflux
ILD
Aspiration pneumonia
Investigations:
Muscle enzymes are raised in the blood. What are some muscle enzymes?
What autoantibody can be measured?
What is used to show abnormal muscle activity?
What is needed for a definite diagnosis?
Creatine kinase ALT AST LDH Aldolase
ANA
Electromyography
Muscle biopsy
Management:
What needs to be given at high doses to begin with?
What type of Rx is needed long term?
Prednisolone
Immunosuppressive
