ABC of Dermatomyositis- A Muscle Disorder

Dermatomyositis is a kind of disease that affects the connective tissue of the body, which in turn causes weakness and tenderness in the muscles and skin. This disease is akin to another disease also called as polymyositis, with a difference, that this disease causes deformity of skin and muscles, while latter affects just muscles. Women are more to Dermatomyositis, as compared to their male counterparts. The symptoms of this disease can develop slowly or rapidly.

Symptoms

Basically, Dermatomyositis is an inflammation of muscles that cause muscle tearing and destruction of the muscle cells. As the time passes by, the muscles becomes weaker and destroyed muscles are replaced or substituted by thick scar tissue, which obstructs normal functioning of the body and further leads to overgrowth of the muscles. The condition in Dermatomyositis is characterized by red rashes on the skin surface, which may further be accompanied by weakened muscles. The rash have red or purple discoloration that surround the joints, including elbows, knees, as well as other parts of body like eyelids, face, neck, shoulders and back.

Aside from that, other symptoms that people may experience include: chronic muscle pain, difficulty in swallowing, lung disorder, hard calcium deposits under the skin, constant fatigue, weight loss, fever, etc.

What is the root cause?

The root cause behind this disease is still unknown to the common masses. But it is believed that at times immune system respond abnormally to the foreign substances present inside the body, which causes excess antibodies that in turn leads to inflammation of the muscles. Others are of view point that muscle inflammation is caused by parasite, bacteria or virus or it may be even genetic disorder.

Diagnosis

This is one among the easiest disease to diagnose because the problem is associated with a rash. The doctor may diagnose it with amyopathic Dermatomyositis; if you don’t experience any muscle weakness. Other tests to diagnose this disease include:

Magnetic Resonance imaging also known as MRI- it is done to check the abnormalities of the muscles

Electromyography- In this diagnosis the impulses that control your muscles are recorded to get the accurate status.

Blood test- The blood test detects the level of auto antibodies and muscle enzymes present in the body

Biopsy of Muscle- Biopsy will show any kind of inflammation or any problem which is associated with the muscle

Skin Biopsy- In this diagnosis the machine will detect how a skin sample reacts to different changes caused by the muscle.

How to treat the condition of Dermatomyositis

Though there is no treatment for this problem, but constant treatment can improve the overall functioning of the skin and improve the muscle weakness. Prompt treatment also avoids further complications. Here we have referred to some treatment that doctor may resort to:

Corticosteroids- This medication lowers the response of immune system, which ultimately reduces the amount of inflammation causing antibodies. The doctor may begin with high dose of drug and then gradually lower it over a period of time.

Other therapies- If corticosteroid doesn’t improve the issue, then the doctor might prescribe other medications like corticosteroid sparing medication, intravenous immunoglobulin commonly referred as IVIG. It consists of several antibodies, which has been collected from healthy people, who have donated their blood. This treatment doesn’t have a long time span, and it is likely that a new infusion is needed after six to eight weeks.

Tacrolimus- It is a kind of drug given to the patients, so that transplant of new organ can happen successful. It comes in both form pill and cream.

Depending upon your condition, the doctor may recommend other therapies like physical therapy, anti-malarial therapy, surgery and medications can help to reduce muscle pain.

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Susan P. Temme is the author of this article. In this article you will get information about different ayurvedic treatment options available to cure rheumatoid arthritis.