NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Immunology & Oncology
/
Autoimmune Disorders
/
Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Diagnosis and Treatment

Master Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Diagnosis and Treatment with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Diagnosis and Treatment

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Disease
picmonic thumbnail
Anticentromere Antibodies
picmonic thumbnail
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Diagnosis and Clinical Features
picmonic thumbnail
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Mechanism, Treatment and Complications
picmonic thumbnail
Antihistone Antibodies

Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Diagnosis and Treatment

Polly-Mayo on fire Derm-skin-mat on fire
Picmonic
Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are two separate but closely related diseases that are classified as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Diagnostic labs include increased creatine kinase (CK), increased aldolase, presence of anti-Jo-1 antibodies, antinuclear (ANA) antibodies, and anti-SRP antibodies, abnormal electromyography (EMG), and muscle biopsy findings. Initial treatment involves immunosuppression with corticosteroids, methotrexate, and azathioprine. For disease cases resistant to initial treatment, additional therapy with rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), calcineurin inhibitors like cyclosporine and tacrolimus, and cyclophosphamide may be utilized.
14 KEY FACTS
DIAGNOSIS
Increased CK (CPK)
Up-arrow with CK-Model

An elevated serum level of muscle enzymes like creatine kinase (CK) and aldolase are characteristic but not specific to dermatomyositis and polymyositis. However, they are useful initial tests when the diagnoses are suspected.

Increased Aldolase
Up-arrow with Aldo-with-lace

An elevated serum level of muscle enzymes like CK and aldolase are characteristic but not specific to dermatomyositis and polymyositis. However, they are useful initial tests when the diagnoses are suspected.

Anti-JO-1 Antibody
Ant-tie-cup-of-joe and (1) wand

Myositis-specific antibodies like anti-Jo-1 antibody and anti-SRP (signal recognition particle) antibody can be detected in both these diseases. Anti-Jo-1 antibody is a type of antisynthetase antibody, a class of antibody that is related to an overarching condition called antisynthetase syndrome, that some patients with DM or PM may fall under.

Anti-SRP Antibody
Anti-tie-Slurpee

Myositis-specific antibodies like anti-Jo-1 antibody and anti-SRP (signal recognition particle) antibody can be detected in both these diseases. Anti-SRP antibodies are almost always found in PM patients and often indicate severe, treatment-resistant disease progression. Other antibodies that may be identified in these conditions include anti-Mi2, anti-PM-Scl, and anti-Ku.

Antinuclear Antibody
Ant-tie-nuclear

This larger class of antibody is detected in a variety of immune conditions; their presence is common in DM and PM patients and can be seen with immunofluorescent staining.

Abnormal EMG
Abnormal-Electric-Muscle-Lines

Electromyography, or EMG, is a diagnostic test that uses electrical energy to demonstrate muscular activity. Either a surface or needle electrode is placed on or within the muscle to trigger and measure electrical activity produced by a muscle; these measurements are then used to generate an electromyogram. Patients with DM or PM have weak muscle fibers, and therefore abnormal EMG findings, like spontaneous fibrillations and repetitive discharges. EMG serves to differentiate myopathies from neuropathic disorders like myasthenia gravis.

Biopsy
Biopsy-needle

For a definitive diagnosis of PM or DM, a muscle biopsy provides positive confirmation. Biopsy for PM shows CD8+ T-cell infiltration, along with necrotic muscle fibers. Muscle biopsy for DM shows CD4+ T-cell infiltration along with perifascicular atrophy, and a skin biopsy may also support the etiology of the cutaneous features.

TREATMENT
Corticosteroids
Quarter-on-steroids

Corticosteroids suppress the immune system by upregulating anti-inflammatory proteins and downregulating pro-inflammatory proteins within cells. Systemic corticosteroid therapy for a duration of nine months to a year is a common first approach to controlling these myopathic diseases. Either prednisone or methylprednisolone is given in high doses initially, and then tapered off gradually depending on clinical response.

Methotrexate
Moth-T-REX-ate

Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunosuppressive drug that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase. It may be used as an adjunct to corticosteroid therapy, and it decreases the need for high-dose steroids, thereby reducing their side effects.

Azathioprine
Astronaut-police

Azathioprine (AZA) is another immunosuppressive drug that acts as an antimetabolite in order to interfere with DNA synthesis within a cell. Combination with glucocorticoids has been shown to be effective with improved long-term patient outcomes over single agent steroid therapy.

TREATMENT FOR RESISTANT DISEASE
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)
Ivy-gold-goblin

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a blood product used to slow down an aberrant immune system via several, but debated mechanisms. It has been shown to be effective in controlling treatment resistant dermatomyositis, but it is not effective for polymyositis.

Cyclophosphamide
Cyclops-phosphate-P

Classified as an alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide cross-links DNA to trigger cell death. It is used for chemotherapy as well as autoimmune conditions. Side effects include myelosuppression and hemorrhagic cystitis, so its use to treat PM and DM should only be considered after second-line agents have failed.

Rituximab
Red-tux-mob

Monoclonal antibody to the B-cell marker CD20, used as both a chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive agent. When treatment to corticosteroid therapy plus MTX or AZA fails, rituximab is often used.

Calcineurin Inhibitors
Calcium-cow-urchin with Inhibiting-chains

Cyclosporine and tacrolimus work by inhibiting the calcineurin cellular receptor, which subsequently prevents T-cell activation. These medications are considered in resistant PM and DM, and in cases involving interstitial lung disease.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Take the Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Diagnosis and Treatment Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,870,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.