Calcinosis is a common and debilitating complication of dermatomyositis. It is a hallmark of the disease, occurring mainly in pediatric patients. Little is known about its pathophysiology, and there is no universally recognized treatment. This is a report of two children with juvenile dermatomyositis and severe calcinosis who showed improvement with the use of alendronate and diltiazen in one patient, and intravenous immunoglobulin in the other.
juvenile dermatomyositis; calcinosis; alendronate; diltiazen; immunoglobulin
