Abstract
Introduction: Juvenile dermatomyositis is an idiopathic multisystemic disease characterized by striated muscle and skin inflammation. There is limited information about this entity in Chile.
Objective: Describe clinical features, therapy and outcome of patients with Juvenile Dermatomyositis in Santiago, Chile.
Methods: A retrospective study including all patients with diagnosis of juvenile dermatomyositis belonging to Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica and Hospital Sótero del Río between 1993 and 2003.
Results: 9 girls and 2 boys were included with median age at diagnosis of 8 years-old. The interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was median 5 months and average follow-up period was 2 years (interval 6 months-58 months). The most common findings at onset were weakness and a characteristic skin rash. All patients were treated with steroids and 73% cases received metotrexate. At the end of the study, 73% of all patients achieved disease-remission.
Conclusions: Favourable outcome of most patients could be related to early diagnosis and the use of inmunosuppressor agents.
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Copyright (c) 2005 Revista Chilena de Pediatría