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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Dermatomyositis is in a group of diseases or disorders of the muscles called inflammatory myopathies. The cause of most inflammatory myopathies is unknown.
Infections caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses can cause inflammatory myopathies, but in most cases of dermatomyositis, doctors aren't able to identify a preceding infection. Some doctors think certain people may have a genetic susceptibility to the disease.
Inflammatory myopathies share many characteristics with autoimmune disorders, in which your immune system attacks normal body components. Normally, your immune system works to protect your healthy cells from attacks by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. If you have dermatomyositis, an unknown cause may act as a trigger for your immune system to begin producing autoimmune antibodies (autoantibodies) that attack your body's own tissues.
Small blood vessels in muscular tissue are particularly affected in dermatomyositis. Inflammatory cells surround the blood vessels and eventually lead to degeneration of muscle fibers. Many people with dermatomyositis show a detectable level of autoantibodies in their blood.
- NINDS dermatomyositis information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dermatomyositis/dermatomyositis.htm. Accessed May 6, 2009.
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- Walker UA. Imaging tools for the clinical assessment of idiopathic inflammatory myositis. Current Opinion in Rheumatology. 2008;20:656.
- Miller ML, et al. Initial treatment of dermatomyositis and polymyositis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- Miller ML, et al. Treatment of recurrent and resistant polymyositis and dermatomyositis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 15, 2009.
