Although dermatomyositis is a rare connective tissue disease, many physicians are confronted with the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by this condition. Based on the vast personal experience of the authors, who have diagnosed, treated, and managed many dermatomyositis patients, this clinical guide provides dermatologists, rheumatologists, pediatricians, neurologists, and general practitioners with the keys to interpreting the clinical symptoms of dermatomyositis. Also included are algorithms to help the reader to make the correct diagnosis, as well as guidance on new diagnostic methods and treatment schemes.

History of Dermatomyositis

Classification of Dermatomyositis
Diagnostic Criteria
Epidemiology of Dermatomyositis
Clinical Manifestations of Dermatomyositis
Cutaneous Manifestations of Dermatomayositis
Oral Manifestations of Dermatomyositis
Musculoskeletal Involvement in Dermatomyositis
Joint Involvement
Cardiac Manifestations of Dematomyositis
Complications of Dermatomyositis
Pulmonary Complications of Dermatomyositis
Gastrointestinal Complications of Dermatomyositis
Ophthalmic Complications of Dermatomyositis
Renal Complications of Dermatomyositis
Complications of Central Nervous System in Dermatomyositis
Pregnancy Complicated by Dermatomyositis
Calcinosis in Dermatomyositis
Internal Malignancy Associated with Dermatomyositis
Clinical Variants of Dermatomyositis
Classic Dermatomyositis in Adults
Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Amyopathic Dermatomyositis
Paraneoplastic Dermatomyositis
Overlap Syndromes
Drug-Induced Dermatomyositis
Other Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
Polymyositis
"Inclusion Body" Myositis
Orbital Myositis
Eosinophilic Myositis/Perimyositis
Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome and Eosinophilic Fasciitis (Shulman Syndrome)
Laboratory Manifestations of Dermatomyositis
Muscle Enzymes
Autoantibodies
Laboratory Assessments of Disease Activity in DM
Pathology and Immunopathology of Dermatomyositis
Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of DM
Medical Evolution of Dermatomyositis
Differential Diagnosis of Dermatomyositis
Etiology and Pathogenesis
Etiology of Dermatomyositis
Pathogenesis of Dermatomyositis
Pathophysiology, Hypotheses for Pathogenesis and Animal Models of DM
Treatment of Dermatomyositis
Pharmacologic Agents in the Treatment of DM
Treatment of Cutaneous Manifestations and Complications of Dermatomyositis
Non-pharmacological Treatment of Dermatomyositis, Physical Therapies and Rehabilitation of Dermatomyositis
Management and Control
Evolution and prognosis of Dermatomyositis.