Polymyositis-dermatomyositis (dermatomucomyositis; neuromyositis; polymyositis gregarina; wagner-unverricht syndrome)

General: Autoimmune disease; etiology unknown; variable symptoms according to prevalence of skin (dermatomyositis) or muscular (polymyositis) involvement; association with neoplastic disease; prevalent in females; onset in childhood before age 10 years and in adults predominant in fourth to sixth decades; both children and adults are affected by this disease, but the prognosis is better for the childhood forms of disease.

Ocular: Violescent discoloration of eyelids; conjunctivitis; episcleritis; anterior uveitis; nystagmus; exophthalmos; cotton-wool spots; retinal edema; retinal hemorrhage; venous engorgement.

Clinical: Erythema involving face, forearms, and upper back; muscle weakness, especially shoulder and pelvic girdles; dysphagia; respiratory difficulty; malaise; fever; tachycardia.

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Kissel JT, et al. Microvascular deposition of complement membrane attack complex in dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med 1986; 314:329.

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Opremcak EM. Collagen disorders: retinal manifestations of collagen vascular diseases. In: Albert DM, Jakobiec FA, eds. Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, vol. V. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1994:989.