Progression of dermatomyositis according to disease subtype

Few data are currently available on the progression of classic dermatomyositis and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis. In this retrospective study, 269 patients were followed longitudinally to determine the characteristics of the two disease subtypes. Of the participants, 51% had classic dermatomyositis, and 40% became post-myopathic. The majority of patients with classic dermatomyositis continued to suffer from muscle disease, most often associated with moderate to severe skin involvement. Patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis had a low risk of progressing to muscular disease, the risk being predictable from the extent of skin involvement.