How long can you live with dermatomyositis?
For dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and necrotizing myopathy, the progression of the disease is more complicated and harder to predict. More than 95 percent of those with DM, PM, and NM are still alive more than five years after diagnosis.
What is the prognosis for patients diagnosed with dermatomyositis?
Dermatomyositis may spontaneously remit in as many as 20% of affected patients. About 5% of patients have a fulminant progressive course with eventual death. However, patients who survive the disease may experience residual weakness and disability. Children with severe dermatomyositis may develop contractures.
Is juvenile dermatomyositis life-threatening?
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease of childhood, primarily affecting proximal muscles and skin.
What is the prognosis for myopathy?
The prognosis for individuals with a myopathy varies. Some individuals have a normal life span and little or no disability. For others, however, the disorder may be progressive, severely disabling, life-threatening, or fatal.
Does dermatomyositis shorten your life?
Conclusions: High mortality occurred in the first year, and the survival rate decreased continually up to 9 years. The main prognostic factor for death is old age, but dermatomyositis and polymyositis must be considered separately.
Does dermatomyositis ever go away?
In some people, dermatomyositis may go away after five years or so. In others, symptoms persist for longer—sometimes for the rest of their lives. Your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of the medication in response to any changes in your symptoms or health.
Does dermatomyositis get worse over time?
Progressive muscle weakness involves the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in your hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck. The weakness affects both the left and right sides of your body, and tends to gradually worsen.
Is juvenile dermatomyositis curable?
JDM is a treatable disease. In many cases the disease goes into remission within two years. The child may have their medications stopped. However, some children may have active disease longer than two years.
How long is treatment for juvenile dermatomyositis?
Patients usually respond well to treatment. Gradual improvement over a few months is typical. Most patients recover completely (remission), meaning that they no longer show signs of active disease or flare-ups. Yet there is a group of patients for whom treatment may not be 100 percent effective.
What is the life expectancy of person with dermatomyositis?
Many patients with dermatomyositis have a survival period of more than 20 years, or even more than 35 years. The most challenging problem in the course of treatment may be the protection of skin from sunlight and prevention of the recurrence of dermatomyositis.
What are the treatments for dermatomyositis?
Options include medication, physical therapy, exercise, heat therapy (including microwave and ultrasound), orthotics and assistive devices, and rest. The standard treatment for dermatomyositis is a corticosteroid drug, given either in pill form or intravenously.
What are systemic findings characteristic of dermatomyositis?
Clinical features of dermatomyositis can be categorized into cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Typical findings include a heliotrope rash, atrophic dermal papules of dermatomyositis (ADPDM; formerly called Gottron papules), shawl sign, holster sign, photosensitivity, flagellate erythema, poikiloderma, calcinosis cutis, and nail fold changes.
What are complications of dermatomyositis?
The muscle weakness and skin problems linked with dermatomyositis can cause a number of problems. Some common complications are: skin ulcers. gastric ulcers. difficulty breathing. lung infections. problems swallowing. malnutrition.