Volume 28, Issue 149, July 2024

Dermatomyositis - the impact of quick diagnosis and treatment on the development of the disease. A review of current research

Magdalena Kajzar^1♦, Błażej Szymczuk², Dominik Trojanowski², Jakub Milczarek², Ksawery Adamiec², Joanna Smorońska-Rypel³, Małgorzata Rodak³, Magdalena Iwan², Kamila Nitka⁴, Natalia Piątkowska⁵

¹Bonifraters Medical Center Ltd., 87 Ks. Leopolda Markiefki Street, 40- 211 Katowice, Poland
²Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poniatowskiego 15, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
³Bonifraters Medical Center Ltd., 87 Ks. Leopolda Markiefki Street, 40- 211 Katowice, Poland
⁴Medical Center in Łańcut Ltd., 5 Paderewski Street, 37-100 Łańcut, Poland
⁵Provincial Hospital in Poznań, 7/19 Juraszów Street, 60-479 Poznań, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
Bonifraters Medical Center Ltd., 87 Ks. Leopolda Markiefki Street, 40-211 Katowice, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory disease classified among autoimmune diseases affecting young and older individuals. Due to its nonspecific symptoms and insidious onset, patients and primary care physicians often overlook it. Delayed diagnosis postpones the initiation of effective treatment and causes irreversible damage to the body. Aim of the study: This study reviews the current literature on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of dermatomyositis. It also summarises existing knowledge in this field. Summary of knowledge: Diagnosis of DM relies on clinical symptoms, including muscle weakness and skin lesions. Decreased strength in the shoulder and hip muscles hinders basic tasks like combing hair or climbing stairs. Late diagnosis can lead to severe musculoskeletal issues. Optimizing treatment outcomes involves tailoring the regimen to the lesion type, muscle involvement, specific autoantibodies, and the patient’s age. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment are crucial for managing dermatomyositis and enhancing the quality of life for patients. Despite the availability of various treatments, achieving clinical remission remains challenging for many patients. This highlights the need for continued research to develop more effective therapies and strategies for managing this complex disease.

Keywords: Dermatomyositis; Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy; Motor activity impact; Symmetrical muscle weakness

Medical Science, 2024, 28, e76ms3388

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v28i149.e76ms3388

Published: 16 July 2024