Dermatomyositis: A Review of Diagnosis and Classification Criteria

Abstract

Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disorder affecting skin and muscle and one of the subgroups of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). Dermatomyositis is more common among women than men and it may occur in adults or children. This disease is also related to malignancy and internal organ involvement. However, around 20% of cases are present without muscle damage. The presence of myositis-specific autoantibodies may help in diagnosis and predict the prognosis of the disease. Early diagnosis of the disease is foremost required for appropriate management. Furthermore, validated diagnostic and classification criteria are important in the clinical setting and studies. Keywords: autoimmune, classification criteria, dermatomyositis, diagnosis