[Clinical and pathological investigation of polymyositis and dermatomyositis: report of 83 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical and pathological characteristics and treatment of polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Eighty-three DM/PM cases were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

The main clinical presentations of PM/DM included amyosthenia, muscular tenderness, elevation of serum enzymes, accompanied by abnormal electromyography and muscular pathology. A total efficacy rate of 86.7% was achieved after treatment with corticosteroid and immuno- depressants.

CONCLUSION

The different clinical and pathological presentations of various types of PM/DM suggest different pathogenesis between DM and PM. Nerve damage is a part of the systemic damages due to the disease, the prognosis of which is related to its classification and then timing of the treatment. Early effective treatment can improve the prognosis.