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Juvenile dermatomyositis: clinical, laboratorial, histological, therapeutical and evolutive parameters of 35 patients

Dermatomiosite juvenil: parâmetros clínicos, laboratoriais, histológicos, terapêuticos e evolutivos de 35 pacientes

Abstracts

This study was based on a prospective and a retrospective analysis of 35 patients who met Bohan and Peter criteria for juvenile dermatomyositis diagnosis.The mean follow-up time was three years ten months. Calcinosis was present in five (14.28 %) patients, cutaneous ulcers in four (11.42%), and systemic involvement in nine (27.71%) patients. All patients presented alterations in the serum levels of muscle enzymes, and all of them were submitted to muscle biopsy as a diagnostic procedure. Nine (25.71%) patients received corticotherapy prior to and 26 (74.28%) after the muscle biopsy. Chloroquine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and intravenous immunoglobulin were used in patients with poor response to corticotherapy. Continuation of cutaneous manifestations was observed in 4 (11.43%) patients, laboratorial activity in 1 (2.85%), cutaneous and laboratorial activities in 3 (8.57%). Ten (28.57%) patients were out of activity, and 17 (48.57%) in remission at study end-point, on March 2002. Two (5.71%) patients died.

juvenile dermatomyositis; clinical findings; muscle biopsy; treatment; evolution; outcome


Este estudo foi baseado na análise prospectiva e retrospectiva de 35 pacientes que preencheram os critérios diagnósticos de Bohan e Peter de dermatomiosite juvenil. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 3 anos e 10 meses. Foi observado calcinose em 5 (14,28%) pacientes, úlcera cutânea em 4 (11,42%) e envolvimento sistêmico em 9 (22,71%). Todos os pacientes apresentavam alterações nos níveis séricos das enzimas musculares e todos foram submetidos a biópsia muscular como procedimento diagnóstico. Nove (25,71%) pacientes receberam corticoterapia antes e 26 (74,28%) depois da realização da biópsia muscular. Foram utilizados cloroquina, metotrexato, ciclosporina, ciclofosfamida e imunoglobulina endovenosa em todos os pacientes que não apresentaram boa resposta ao corticóide. Houve manutenção das manifestações cutâneas em 4 (11,43%) pacientes, atividade laboratorial em 1 (2,85%), atividades cutânea e laboratorial em 3 (8,57%). Dez (28,57%) pacientes estavam fora de atividade e 17 (48,57%) em remissão por ocasião do término do estudo em março de 2002. Dois (5,71%) pacientes faleceram.

dermatomiosite juvenil; achados clínicos; biópsia muscular; tratamento; evolução; prognóstico


JUVENILE DERMATOMYOSITIS

Clinical, laboratorial, histological, therapeutical and evolutive parameters of 35 patients

Adriana Maluf Elias Sallum1 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. , Maria Helena Bittencurt Kiss2 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. , Silvana Sachetti3 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. ,

Maria Bernadate Dutra Resende4 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. , Kelly Cristina Moutinho5 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. , Mary de Souza Carvalho6 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. ,

Clovis Arthur Almeida Silva7 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6. , Suely Kazue Nagahashi Marie8 1 Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil: MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS; 2 MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS; 3 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School; 4 MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS; 5 Graduate student; 6 MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS; 7 MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS; 8 MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6.

ABSTRACT - This study was based on a prospective and a retrospective analysis of 35 patients who met Bohan and Peter criteria for juvenile dermatomyositis diagnosis.The mean follow-up time was three years ten months. Calcinosis was present in five (14.28 %) patients, cutaneous ulcers in four (11.42%), and systemic involvement in nine (27.71%) patients. All patients presented alterations in the serum levels of muscle enzymes, and all of them were submitted to muscle biopsy as a diagnostic procedure. Nine (25.71%) patients received corticotherapy prior to and 26 (74.28%) after the muscle biopsy. Chloroquine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and intravenous immunoglobulin were used in patients with poor response to corticotherapy. Continuation of cutaneous manifestations was observed in 4 (11.43%) patients, laboratorial activity in 1 (2.85%), cutaneous and laboratorial activities in 3 (8.57%). Ten (28.57%) patients were out of activity, and 17 (48.57%) in remission at study end-point, on March 2002. Two (5.71%) patients died.

KEY WORDS: juvenile dermatomyositis, clinical findings, muscle biopsy, treatment, evolution, outcome.

Dermatomiosite juvenil: parâmetros clínicos, laboratoriais, histológicos, terapêuticos e evolutivos de 35 pacientes

RESUMO - Este estudo foi baseado na análise prospectiva e retrospectiva de 35 pacientes que preencheram os critérios diagnósticos de Bohan e Peter de dermatomiosite juvenil. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 3 anos e 10 meses. Foi observado calcinose em 5 (14,28%) pacientes, úlcera cutânea em 4 (11,42%) e envolvimento sistêmico em 9 (22,71%). Todos os pacientes apresentavam alterações nos níveis séricos das enzimas musculares e todos foram submetidos a biópsia muscular como procedimento diagnóstico. Nove (25,71%) pacientes receberam corticoterapia antes e 26 (74,28%) depois da realização da biópsia muscular. Foram utilizados cloroquina, metotrexato, ciclosporina, ciclofosfamida e imunoglobulina endovenosa em todos os pacientes que não apresentaram boa resposta ao corticóide. Houve manutenção das manifestações cutâneas em 4 (11,43%) pacientes, atividade laboratorial em 1 (2,85%), atividades cutânea e laboratorial em 3 (8,57%). Dez (28,57%) pacientes estavam fora de atividade e 17 (48,57%) em remissão por ocasião do término do estudo em março de 2002. Dois (5,71%) pacientes faleceram.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: dermatomiosite juvenil, achados clínicos, biópsia muscular, tratamento, evolução, prognóstico.

Dermatomyositis is a rare multisystem disease, whose etiology is unknown, characterized by a vasculitis that affects skin and muscles1-3. Most studies suggest that juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is autoimmune in pathogenesis and results from a vasculopathy. Both cell-mediate immunity to muscle antigens and immune-complex disease may play roles in pathogenesis1. Dermatomyositis is one of a heterogeneous group of acquired muscular diseases, an idiopathic inflammatory myositis marked by the presence of muscle weakness and histological evidence of inflammation in muscle biopsies. The characterization of this group of diseases is based on muscular involvement, association of clinical manifestations, histological alterations, response to corticotherapy and prognosis4,5.

Although clinical, laboratorial, histological, therapeutical and evolutive aspects of this disease have been analyzed in many previous studies, the majority of these studies were carried out some years ago, and therefore may not accurately reflect the status of the disease as it currently stands.

We describe clinical, laboratorial, therapeutical, histological and outcome parameters of 35 patients with JDM, based on a mean follow-up of 3 years 10 months, ranging from one year nine months to ten years three months.

METHOD

Patient selection: Thirty-five JDM patients fulfilling Bohan and Peter criteria6, attending the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit at the Children's Institute of the University of São Paulo Medical School and Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, have been studied. The evaluation was prospective from February/1999 to March/2002 in 25 patients, and retrospective over the period March/1991 to March/2002 in 10 patients. Bohan and Peter6 suggested a classification based upon the presence or absence of five major criteria for diagnosis, including symmetric muscle weakness, evidence of inflammatory myositis in muscle biopsy, elevation of serum muscle enzymes, electromyographic evidence of inflammatory myopathy and dermatological pathognomonic features of dermatomyositis (heliotrope and Gottron's papules). A diagnosis of JDM requires the presence of the pathognomonic rash and three of the other criteria1. A diagnosis of JDM is not excluded by the failure to meet one or more criteria1.

Clinical evaluation: The clinical parameters analyzed were cutaneous manifestations such as heliotrope, Gottron papulae, erithema malar, palmar, periungueal, and in trunk, skin ulcers and calcinosis; involvement of internal organs, and muscle involvement according to the scale established by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in 19437 where: 0= no contractions, I= flicker or trace of contraction, II= active movement with gravity eliminated, III= active movement against gravity, IV= active movement against gravity and resistance, and V= normal power.

Laboratory evaluation: Antinuclear and anti-Jo-1 antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum levels of the muscle enzymes AST, ALT, DHL and CK were analyzed at the time of the biopsy.

Histopathological evaluation of skeletal muscle: Muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from brachial biceps muscle in all patients and a total of 37 muscle fragments were submitted to histopathological analysis. Specimens 2 and 5 were from a boy who presented persistent atypical cutaneous alteration and was resubmitted to muscle biopsy, with a 40-month interval from the first procedure. Additionally, specimens 9 and 14 were from a girl presenting an atypical association with mental retardation and who was submitted to a second biopsy for diagnostic confirmation after an 8-month interval. Muscle biopsy was performed before corticotherapy in 26 patients, and after the introduction of the medication in 9.

Routine standard histological and histochemical techniques were employed in muscle biopsies. Frozen sequential sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), modified Gomori trichrome, periodic acid Schiff, cytochrome C oxydase, NADH-tetrazolium-reductase, succinate dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase pH 4.3 and 9.4, alkaline and acid phosphatase. Each biopsy specimen was coded and analyzed concomitantly by two investigators (AMES and SKNM). Presence of internal nuclei, focal myofibrillar loss, necrotic fiber, regenerating fiber, perivascular inflammation, endomysial inflammation, and increased connective tissue was observed in all preparations. Degenerative aspects were confirmed in acid phosphatase reaction, regenerative aspects in alkaline phosphatase and proliferation of connective tissue in modified Gomori staining. These alterations were analyzed semiquantitatively where: (-)= absent; (+)= present in less than 25% of the analyzed fields; (++)= present in 50%; (+++)= present in 75%; (++++)= present in 100%.

Therapeutical evaluation: All patients received corticotherapy (prednisone or metilprednisolone), and initial therapeutical response was analyzed at between 4 to 6 weeks following the introduction of medication; response was considered good, partial or bad, based on the improvement of muscle strength and/or cutaneous lesions. Chloroquine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and/or intravenous immunoglobulin were administered to all patients that presented partial or bad initial responses.

Evolution analysis: Continuation of clinical activity was considered when there was persistent muscle weakness or cutaneous activity characterized by either the presence of erythema, heliotrope, Gottron papulae, cutaneous ulcers, or laboratorial activity during which, increased serum levels of muscle enzymes were maintained. Out of activity was deemed when there was an absence of symptoms and signs with continued medication and remissions when the children presented asymptomatic without medication. All patients were classified according to these different clinical criteria at study end-point, on March 2002.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics: The mean age of disease onset was 6 years 10 months (± 3 years), median: 7 years 5 months, ranging from 1 year 5 months to 12 years 8 months. The gender distribution showed a predominance of females, being 2.8 females to 1 male (26 females and 9 males). All patients fulfilled Bohan and Peter criteria for dermatomyositis, with the presence of characteristic cutaneous lesion (Gottron's papules and/or heliotrope), in addition to three other criteria. It was noteworthy that cutaneous and subcutaneous involvement was severe in four (11.42%), presenting cutaneous ulcer, while four other patients had calcinosis. Gastrointestinal tract involvement was observed in six (17.14%) patients, whereas five presented pulmonary involvement (14.28%), and three (8.57%) presented cardiac involvement. The majority of the patients presented some degree of muscle weakness, according to the MRC scale, with the exception of 3 patients (cases 2/5, 14 and 21) with normal muscle strength, in whom JDM diagnosis was established with the association of other signs (Table 1).

Laboratorial characteristics: The antinuclear antibody was positive in 14 (40%) patients, in contrast to the negativity of the anti-Jo-1 antibody in all patients, even in those presenting pulmonary involvement. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was positive in five (14.28%) patients.

All patients presented at least one of the muscle serum enzyme altered. The serum levels of CK compared to serum levels of LDH, AST and ALT are shown in Graph 1. Interestingly, a normal range of CK was observed in 31.5%, in contrast to 3%, 17% and 29% of normal values for ALT, LDH and AST, respectively. A similar percentage of patients presented CK levels which were either normal, 5 times normal or up to 15 times normal, whereas a higher percentage of patients presented 5 times normal level of LDH, AST and ALT.


Histopathological findings for skeletal muscle (Table 1): Morphological alterations on muscle fibers including miofibrillar loss, necrotic fibers, regenerating fibers were observed in all cases except four (Fig 2). Degenerating aspects of muscle fibers were noted in all specimens and better demonstrated in acid phosphatase reaction (Fig 3).




The mean time up to the biopsy was 11 months (± 16 months 15 days) with median of 4 months, ranging from 1 to 64 months. Five patients had their biopsies performed more than one year after disease onset, including the two patients submitted to a second biopsy. Morphological alterations in muscle biopsies of these patients were markedly slight, ranging from absent, to 50% of the analyzed fields (++), in concordance to the moderate muscle weakness to normal muscle strength observed. Their CK levels were also normal, except in Case 9/14, which presented 25 times the normal level at first biopsy, decreasing to 3 times at the second biopsy performed 8 months later. It is noteworthy that in spite of the marked CK level increase in the latter case, the muscles' structural alterations, including muscle fiber morphological derangement and presence of inflammatory infiltration, were negligible. Moreover, the perifascicular atrophy was only demonstrated in the second biopsy. The two sequential biopsies performed in another case (2/5) with a 40-month time interval showed few differences between them. In the second biopsy, an increase in connective tissue and a slight decrease in perivascular inflammation, which had been scant from the outset, were observed.

30 biopsies were performed on patients during their first 12 months of symptoms, and among them 5 biopsies were carried out in the first month, 6 in the second month, 5 in the third month, 8 in the fourth month, 2 in thesixth month and 4 between the seventh and twelfth months of disease onset. Although the number of cases in each time interval was too small to permit statistical analysis, the muscle lesion and inflammatory infiltration were more evident in the group with less than one year of disease. 40% of biopsies performed in the first month presented muscle alteration for more than 50% (++) of fields studied, whereas the frequency of muscle lesions increased to 67% - 100% of cases in subsequent time intervals up to 12 months.

Perifascicular atrophy was detected in all cases, independent of evolution time, being present even in the first month of the disease (Fig 1). Interestingly, slight proliferation of connective tissue was observed even in the first month since the onset of symptoms.

Surprisingly, striking inflammatory infiltration (++/+++/++++), either endomysial or perivascular, was observed in 5 out of 9 patients who had been treated with corticotherapy before the biopsy procedure. Coincidentally, the great majority (4/5) were female patients.

No relation was observed between degree of morphological muscle lesion, degree of inflammatory infiltration and CK serum level. Similarly, no association was found concerning CK level and evolution time interval up to biopsy and degree of muscle weakness.

Therapeutical and evolutional characteristics: All patients received corticotherapy, 9 (25.71%) patients received therapy prior to muscle biopsy, and 26 (74.28%) patients after it. 15 patients presented initial good response needing no complementary therapy. Partial response was observed in 16 patients, and bad response in 3, whom received additional associated therapy with Chloroquine (12 patients), Methotrexate (12), Cyclosporine (4), Cyclophosphamide (2) and intravenous Immunoglobulin (3). The medication administered to each patient, along with corresponding initial therapeutical status and outcomes at study end-point (March 2002), are listed in Tables 2 and 3.

Nine patients out of 19 (47%) with partial or bad response, presented systemic involvement, in contrast to 20% involvement for those presenting good response (3/15). Additionally, patients with worse responses presented worse muscle weakness at the time of biopsy, as 62% of patients with an unsatisfactory response had grade I-III muscle strength, whereas similar muscle degree was observed in 46% of patients with good response.

The analysis of outcomes at study end-point revealed continuation of clinical activity associated to cutaneous manifestations in 4 (11.43%) patients, laboratorial activity in 1 (2.85%), cutaneous and laboratorial activities in 3 (8.57%), out of activity in 10 (28.57%), and remission in 17 (48.57%) patients. Two (5.71%) patients died: one with a complication of multisystemic involvement and another due to non-adherence to the treatment. 30% of female patients (8/26) presented unsatisfactory evolution, in contrast to 11% of male patients (1/9).

No relapses were observed among patients in remission, follow-up being for 37 months on average. 11 out of 17 patients in remission had more than 2 years of follow-up.

Among 13 patients presenting systemic involvement, 8 patients (61.5%) presented good outcomes, independent of the CK level, degree of muscle strength or inflammatory infiltration in muscle biopsy.

DISCUSSION

JDM makes up approximately 5% of annual visits to Pediatric Rheumatology reference centers4. In our experience, JDM ranks fourth among rheumatologic diseases, after rheumatic fever, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus8. It has been estimated that about one third of the 1000 or so cases published in the world literature, were in the pediatric age group (under 16 years)9.

JDM is different from the adult form of dermatomyositis. The clinical presentation in children is more frequently insidious and may be dominated by constitutional symptoms of fatigue, malaise, fever, anorexia and weight loss. Additionally, children have more often a multisystem vasculitis, which may involve the skin, gastrointestinal mucosa, heart, and retina. Children with longstanding, untreated disease, with generalized cutaneous vasculitis, frequently develop calcinosis. The association of malignancy with the development of myositis has been well described in adults, but only rarely reported in children . Once remission is achieved, children appear to return to normal muscle strength and function, more frequently than adults with dermatomyositis10-12.

Outcome depends on the precocity of diagnosis and treatment. Predictive parameters to guide the correct therapeutical approach, and for prognosis, are still lacking in JDM.

Therefore, this study was designed to describe clinical, laboratorial, and histological findings, and to correlate them to early response to the therapy adopted and to longstanding outcome features, in 35 JDM patients.

Age and gender distribution: It was previously reported that the most common age for onset of JDM was 6 years for boys, with two peaks of 6 years and 10 years for girls, with an overall average of 7 years for disease onset1. The mean age of disease onset in our study was in accordance with these reports, being 6 years 10 months on average, 6 years for boys, with peaks of 4 years 10 months and 9 years 6 months for girls.

A female predominance has been described in most of the rheumatic diseases in childhood, as was observed in the present study with a female to male proportion of 2.8:1.

Clinical findings: All patients in this study fulfilled these diagnostic criteria. An association with widespread vasculitis has also been made in this childhood disease. In fact, 34% of our patients presented systemic involvement including gastrointestinal tract, cardiac, respiratory and more severe cutaneous alterations, than predicted within the diagnostic criteria.

JDM may be associated with motor dysfunction of the entire gastrointestinal tract. Abnormal esophageal motor function is a complication of the disease and esophageal symptoms are frequently present. Small and large bowel involvement has also been documented13. Our patients presented esophageal gastric reflux, dysphagia and upper digestive tract bleeding.

There are few reports in the literature on cardiac involvement in JDM1. A few patients have cardiac murmurs or pericardial friction rubs and a high proportion show ECG changes14. In this study, three patients presented tachicardia with hypercinetic circulatory state shown by electrocardiogram.

Lungs may be affected in JDM, primarily or through complications of muscle weakness15. In this study, aspirative pneumonia was present in two patients and interstitial disease in three patients. The pathological mechanisms of interstitial lung disease remain unknown. There is evidence that both cell mediated and humoral immunity play a role in the pathogenesis of this lesion. More recently, the role of the anti-Jo-I antibody has been highlighted15 in association with pulmonary interstitial disease. However, the anti-Jo-I antibody was negative in all patients in this study, even in those patients with interstitial disease, which corroborates previous reports describing the rarity of its presence in childhood.

Dystrophic calcification is two or three times more frequent in JDM than in adult dermatomyositis, occurring in 40% to 75% of children with JDM16. The calcification occurs in the interstitial of muscle or in the subcutaneous tissue, and it is readily visible on X-ray. Nodules of calcium may be extruded through perforations in the skin. We found a lesser incidence of calcinosis in our casuistic (11%) than seen previously.

Skin ulceration may be considered among the systemic angiopathy referred to by Banker and Victor17, where necrotizing vasculitis has been identified. The same pathological condition has been described in skeletal muscle, subcutaneous tissue and gastrointestinal tract, resulting in muscle infarction, gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding and perforation, constituting one of the major causes of death18. Few patients in the present study presented skin ulceration (11%), however it was present in one of the 2 fatal cases, being part of the systemic angiopathy that lead to death.

Although muscle weakness is one of the criteria for diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy, it is not easy to assess this alteration objectively. The strength of muscles may be graded according to their ability to act against gravity and resistance offered by an examiner, as proposed by the well-known MRC grading system. However, such a system has the disadvantage of being subjective, depending on examiner impression. Moreover, about 40% of extremity muscles such as rotators and muscles moving fingers and toes, are not significantly affected by gravity. A careful examination of muscle strength, taking into account these difficulties, depicted only three patients with normal muscle power from our cases. A better, non-invasive method of assessing muscle function is necessary to permit correlation of this parameter to other findings, thus permitting a better search for predictive factors of evolution in JDM19.

Laboratorial and histopathological findings of skeletal muscle: It has been stressed that the serum levels of muscle enzymes are important for diagnosis and for monitoring the effectiveness of therapy1. However, CK levels were normal in 31% of our patients, in spite of presenting muscle weakness and/or structural alterations and inflammatory infiltration in muscle biopsy. Unfortunately, the degree of increase in CK level did not also predict the outcome. The other muscle enzymes presented similar behavior.

Other serum specific markers for myositis have been considered, and antibody anti-Mi-2, an antibody against cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein evolved in the translation process, is one of these candidates. However, in contrast to presence of anti-Mi-2 of up to 95% in dermatomyositis with classical cutaneous involvement, only 10-50% of cases of JDM presented this antibody. Therefore, most previous studies do not recommend routine clinical testing for anti-Mi-2 since the yield is likely to be low. Moreover, it seems not to be a prognostic factor20.

Other non-specific indicators of inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, tend to correlate with the degree of clinical inflammation, and have are useful in differentiating inflammatory myopathies from non-inflammatory muscle disorders. However, the reported results are also variable and likely to be low.

On the other hand, muscle biopsy is important for establishing the diagnosis of an inflammatory myopathy and for understanding the character of the inflammatory change, such as its distribution and the degree of parenchyma involvement21. Although perifascicular atrophy may be present in other pathologies as dystrophies, it was described as a frequent finding in definite DEM22 and was found in all cases studied here (Fig 1). Perifascicular atrophy in the present study was observed as early as 1 month from the onset of symptoms and persisted for at least 64 months of the active disease. The inflammatory infiltration seems to be more evident from between two months of disease onset and up to one year, mostly in the first six months of the disease. After one year, there is apparently a decrease in the inflammatory alterations, even if untreated.

The introduction of corticotherapy tends to clear the inflammatory infiltration in lesioned tissues, but 5 of our treated patients presented inflammatory cells in muscle tissue and yet had good outcomes. However, the question as to whether the inflammatory reaction would have been greater without the treatment remains.

Despite muscle biopsy being a fundamental diagnostic tool, its histological analysis is insufficient as a prognostic factor. Future biological markers, such as proteins involved in the pathomechanisms of tissue lesions, may be studied in muscle specimens by immunohistochemical methods to guide the best therapeutical approach23-25.

Therapeutical and evolutional characteristics: Treatment with corticosteroids does improve the prognosis. The death rate is reduced from around 33% to less than 10%26. The acute stage, during which therapy is required, is generally self-limited and lasts for about two years27. Chloroquine has been used as a steroid-sparing agent, and as a drug that is effective in treating the dermatitis of JDM1. Glucocorticoid resistance or dependence is the primary indication for the use of immunosupressive drugs1. It is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs, since there have been no controlled trials in JDM treatment. However, some publications confirm the efficacy of corticotherapy, or other highly selective immunosuppressive therapy, in the management of this disease during its acute phase. Most authors agree that early diagnosis and early aggressive therapy, result either in reducing mortality or improving functional recovery28. Thus, the 74% remission or out of activity achieved by our patients at the study end-point, also corroborates these reports. The high incidence (88%) of some extent of response to corticotherapy in our study, also confirms the efficacy of its use, and strongly suggests this as the drug of first choice.

The majority of fatalities occur within two years of disease onset, according to several reports29, although there are several periods of increased vulnerability to life-threatening complications, during the initial year of treatment. Gastrointestinal ulceration, hemorrhage and perforation, and myocardial and respiratory failure have been described as major causes of death in JDM30. Pulmonary involvement is another important cause of morbidity and mortality in JDM. Concordantly, one of our cases presented a fatal evolution owing to complications of multisystemic involvement. Non-adherence to treatment was the cause of our other fatal case. Later relapses with corticosteroid treatment programs (prednisone doses < 15 mg) in the first 24 months after cessation of treatment have also been described31. Our patients in remission, observed for more than 2 years on average, have not presented relapses to date. A lengthier follow-up will permit further conclusions to be drawn on the outcomes.

The present analysis of a representative number of cases of JDM, a rare childhood multisystemic disease, permitted us to conclude that:

1. Skeletal muscle involvement can be assessed by clinical evaluation, a qualitative method; by CK serum levels, not always corresponding to clinical or structural muscle condition; and by muscle biopsy, with perifascicular atrophy as a constant finding.

2. Adequate diagnosis and therapy resulted in a 74% good outcome within a mean follow-up period of 3 years 10 months.

3. None of the parameters analyzed, including muscle weakness, multisystemic alteration, CK level, degree of inflammatory infiltration and muscle fiber morphological alteration, presented predictive value.

4. Further studies are necessary aimed at finding biological markers to select and guide new therapeutical approaches for those patients presenting drawbacks.

REFERENCES

1. Cassidy JT, Petty RE. Juvenile dermatomyositis. In Cassidy JT, Petty RE (Eds.). Textbook of pediatric rheumatology. 3 Ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1995:323-364.

2. Ansell BM. Juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1991;17:931-942.

3. Ansell BM. Juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1992;19:60-62.

4. Mastaglia FL, Ojeda VJ. Inflammatory myophaties: Part I. Ann Neurol 1985;17:215-227.

5. Mastaglia FL, Ojeda VJ. Inflammatory myophaties: Part II. Ann Neurol 1985;17:317-323.

6. Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med 1975;13:344-347.

7. Medical Research Council. Aids to the investigation of peripheral nerve injuries. War Memorandun No 7, 2.Ed. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1943.

8. Sogabe T. Dermato/polimiosite juvenil: estudo das características clínico-laboratoriais em 40 crianças. Dissertação (Mestrado) Universidade de São Paulo SP, 1993.

9. Bitnum S, Daeschner CW, Travis LB, Dodge WF, Hopps HC. Dermatomyositis. J Pediatr 1964;64:101-131.

10. Callen JP. Relationship of cancer to inflammatory muscle disease: dermatomyositis, polymyositis and inclusion body myositis. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1994;20:943-953.

11. Caloew EE, Cavaliere MJ, Perez NM. Muscle pathology in juvenile dermatomyositis. São Paulo Med J 1997;115:1555-1559.

12. Rider L. Childhood myositis: newly recognized diversity. In Plotz P (moderator). Myositis: immunologic contributions to understanding cause, pathogenesis, and therapy. Ann Intern Med 1995;122:715-724.

13. Horowitz M, McNeil JD, Maddern GJ, Collins PJ, Shearman DJC. Abnormalities of gastric and esophageal emptying in polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Gastroenterology 1986;90:434-439.

14. Dubowitz V. Inflammatory myopathies. In Dubowitz V (ed). Muscle disorders in childhood. 2.Ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1995:422-456.

15. Marie I, HatronP-Y, Hachulla E, Wallaert B, Michon-Pasturel U, Devulder B. Pulmonary involvement in polymiositis and in dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1998;25:1336-1343.

16. Bowyer SL, Blane CE, Sullivan DB, Cassidy JT. Childhood dermatomyositis: factors predicting functional outcome and development of dystrophic calcification. J Pediatr 1983;103:882-888.

17. Banker BQ, Victor M. Dermatomyositis (systemic angiopathy) of childhood. Medicine 1966;45:261-289.

18. Dillon MJ. Rare vasculitic syndromes. Ann Med 1997;29:175-179.

19. Hoskimg GP, Bhat US, Dubowitz V, Edwards RHT. Measurements of muscle strength and performance in children with normal and diseased muscle. Arq Dis Child 1976;51:957-963.

20. Feldman BM, Reichlin M, Laxer RM, Targoff IN, Stein LD, Silverman ED. Clinical significance of specific autoantibodies in juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1996;23:1794-1797.

21. Dubowitz V. Histological and histochemical stains and reactions. In: Dubowtiz V (ed). Muscle biopsy: a practical approach. 2.Ed. London: Baillière Tindall, 1985:19-40.

22. Scola RH, Werneck LC, Prevenello DMS, Toderke EL, Iwamoto FM. Diagnosis of dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a study of 102 cases. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2000;58:789-799.

23. Gonçalves FGP, Chimelli L, Sallum AME, Marie SKN, Kiss MHB, Ferriani VPL. Immunohistological analysis of CD59 and membrane attack complex of complement in muscle in juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 2002;29:1301-1307.

24. Sallum AME. Expressão das moléculas de adesão (ICAM-1 e VCAM-1) em tecido muscular de pacientes com dermatomiosite juvenil. Dissertação (Mestrado) Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 2002.

25. Carvalho, AAS. Estudo imuno-histoquímico do complexo maior de histocompatibilidade classe I nas doenças neuromusculares. Importância no diagnóstico diferencial das miopatias inflamatórias. Tese (Doutorado), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 1996.

26. Yoshioka M, Okuno T, Mikawa H. Prognosis and treatment of polymiositis with particular reference to steroid patients. Arch Dis Child 1985;60:236-244.

27. Miller JJ. Late progression in dermatomyositis in childhood. J Pediatr 1973;83:543-548.

28. Sullivan DB, Cassidy JT, Petty RE. Dermatomyositis in pediatric patient. Arthritis Rheum 1977;20:327-331.

29. Goel KM, Shanks RA. Dermatomyositis in childhood: review of eight cases. Arch Dis Child 1976;51:501-506.

30. Pachman LM, Cooke N. Juvenile dermatomyositis: a clinical and immunologic study. J Pediatr 1980;96:226-234.

31. Spencer BH, Stingjen BH, Berstein BH, Kornreich HK, King KK. Course of treated juvenile dermatomyositis. J Pediatr 1984;105:399-408.

Received 10 April 2002, received in final form 2 July 2002. Accepted 17 July 2002.

Dra.Suely Kazue Nagahashi Marie - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - Departamento de Neurologia - Laboratório de Miopatias e Biologia Molecular - Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 455 sala 4110 - 01246-903 São Paulo SP - Brasil. fax: 11 30614036. E-mail: sknmarie@usp.br.

  • 1. Cassidy JT, Petty RE. Juvenile dermatomyositis. In Cassidy JT, Petty RE (Eds.). Textbook of pediatric rheumatology. 3 Ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1995:323-364.
  • 2. Ansell BM. Juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1991;17:931-942.
  • 3. Ansell BM. Juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1992;19:60-62.
  • 4. Mastaglia FL, Ojeda VJ. Inflammatory myophaties: Part I. Ann Neurol 1985;17:215-227.
  • 5. Mastaglia FL, Ojeda VJ. Inflammatory myophaties: Part II. Ann Neurol 1985;17:317-323.
  • 6. Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med 1975;13:344-347.
  • 7
    Medical Research Council. Aids to the investigation of peripheral nerve injuries. War Memorandun No 7, 2.Ed. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1943.
  • 8. Sogabe T. Dermato/polimiosite juvenil: estudo das características clínico-laboratoriais em 40 crianças. Dissertação (Mestrado) Universidade de São Paulo SP, 1993.
  • 9. Bitnum S, Daeschner CW, Travis LB, Dodge WF, Hopps HC. Dermatomyositis. J Pediatr 1964;64:101-131.
  • 10. Callen JP. Relationship of cancer to inflammatory muscle disease: dermatomyositis, polymyositis and inclusion body myositis. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1994;20:943-953.
  • 11. Caloew EE, Cavaliere MJ, Perez NM. Muscle pathology in juvenile dermatomyositis. São Paulo Med J 1997;115:1555-1559.
  • 12. Rider L. Childhood myositis: newly recognized diversity. In Plotz P (moderator). Myositis: immunologic contributions to understanding cause, pathogenesis, and therapy.
  • Ann Intern Med 1995;122:715-724.
  • 13. Horowitz M, McNeil JD, Maddern GJ, Collins PJ, Shearman DJC. Abnormalities of gastric and esophageal emptying in polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Gastroenterology 1986;90:434-439.
  • 14. Dubowitz V. Inflammatory myopathies. In Dubowitz V (ed). Muscle disorders in childhood. 2.Ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1995:422-456.
  • 15. Marie I, HatronP-Y, Hachulla E, Wallaert B, Michon-Pasturel U, Devulder B. Pulmonary involvement in polymiositis and in dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1998;25:1336-1343.
  • 16. Bowyer SL, Blane CE, Sullivan DB, Cassidy JT. Childhood dermatomyositis: factors predicting functional outcome and development of dystrophic calcification. J Pediatr 1983;103:882-888.
  • 17. Banker BQ, Victor M. Dermatomyositis (systemic angiopathy) of childhood. Medicine 1966;45:261-289.
  • 18. Dillon MJ. Rare vasculitic syndromes. Ann Med 1997;29:175-179.
  • 19. Hoskimg GP, Bhat US, Dubowitz V, Edwards RHT. Measurements of muscle strength and performance in children with normal and diseased muscle. Arq Dis Child 1976;51:957-963.
  • 20. Feldman BM, Reichlin M, Laxer RM, Targoff IN, Stein LD, Silverman ED. Clinical significance of specific autoantibodies in juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 1996;23:1794-1797.
  • 21. Dubowitz V. Histological and histochemical stains and reactions. In: Dubowtiz V (ed). Muscle biopsy: a practical approach. 2.Ed. London: Baillière Tindall, 1985:19-40.
  • 22. Scola RH, Werneck LC, Prevenello DMS, Toderke EL, Iwamoto FM. Diagnosis of dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a study of 102 cases. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2000;58:789-799.
  • 23. Gonçalves FGP, Chimelli L, Sallum AME, Marie SKN, Kiss MHB, Ferriani VPL. Immunohistological analysis of CD59 and membrane attack complex of complement in muscle in juvenile dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 2002;29:1301-1307.
  • 24. Sallum AME. Expressão das moléculas de adesão (ICAM-1 e VCAM-1) em tecido muscular de pacientes com dermatomiosite juvenil. Dissertação (Mestrado) Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 2002.
  • 25. Carvalho, AAS. Estudo imuno-histoquímico do complexo maior de histocompatibilidade classe I nas doenças neuromusculares. Importância no diagnóstico diferencial das miopatias inflamatórias. Tese (Doutorado), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 1996.
  • 26. Yoshioka M, Okuno T, Mikawa H. Prognosis and treatment of polymiositis with particular reference to steroid patients. Arch Dis Child 1985;60:236-244.
  • 27. Miller JJ. Late progression in dermatomyositis in childhood. J Pediatr 1973;83:543-548.
  • 28. Sullivan DB, Cassidy JT, Petty RE. Dermatomyositis in pediatric patient. Arthritis Rheum 1977;20:327-331.
  • 29. Goel KM, Shanks RA. Dermatomyositis in childhood: review of eight cases. Arch Dis Child 1976;51:501-506.
  • 30. Pachman LM, Cooke N. Juvenile dermatomyositis: a clinical and immunologic study. J Pediatr 1980;96:226-234.
  • 31. Spencer BH, Stingjen BH, Berstein BH, Kornreich HK, King KK. Course of treated juvenile dermatomyositis. J Pediatr 1984;105:399-408.
  • 1
    Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of Pediatric Department, Neurology Departament, Laboratory of Neurological Investigation, University of São Paulo Medical School (USPMS), São Paulo SP, Brazil:
    MD, Post-graduate student of Pediatric Department, USPMS;
    2
    MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Institute, USPMS;
    3
    MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo Medical School;
    4
    MD, Post-graduate student, Department of Neurology, USPMS;
    5
    Graduate student;
    6
    MD, PhD; Neurology Department, Clinical Hospital, USPMS;
    7
    MD, PhD, Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Children's Institute, USPMS;
    8
    MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, USPMS. Grant from FAPESP 98/16290-6.
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      15 Jan 2003
    • Date of issue
      Dec 2002

    History

    • Received
      10 Apr 2002
    • Reviewed
      02 July 2002
    • Accepted
      17 July 2002
    Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices Torre Norte, 04101-000 São Paulo SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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