Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Advances in Pathogenesis, Assessment, and Management

Incidence and outcomes for children with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in Western Australia-a long-term population-based study

AIM

To determine the incidence and health outcomes for juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (JIIM) in a long-term whole-population study.

METHODS

We included patients under 18 years hospitalized in Western Australia (WA) from 1985 and 2015 with incident JIIM as defined by pertinent diagnostic codes for dermatomyositis (JDM) polymyositis (JPM), other JIIM and overlap myositis (JOM). We compared clinical outcomes and modified Charlson comorbidity scores with age and gender matched (2:1 ratio) patients with new onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Trends over time for annual incidence rate per million child-population (AIR) were analyzed by least square regression and survival by Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

We included 40 patients with JIIM (63% female, median age 8.5 years) for an average AIR of 2.52 per million (CI 1.09-5.57). AIR was stable over time leading to a point prevalence of 52.61 (CI 40.57-67.06) in 2015. Most patients (80%) were classified as JDM with an AIR for JDM of 2.02 (CI 1.09-5.58) and AIR for the combined other JIIM at 0.51 (CI 0.24-1.15). There was female preponderance (62.5%) in both JIIM groups, but no evidence of seasonality. Over a median follow-up of 13 years, one- and ten-year survival was 94.1%. Compared to JIA patients, readmission (80.4 vs. 63.7, p = .02) and infection rates (15.2 vs. 9.6, p < .01) per 100 person-years were higher for JIIM, with similar frequency of interstitial lung disease, fractures, and thrombotic events. At last observation, nearly all patients in both JIIM cohorts (97.5 vs. 92.5%) had accrued some form of comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of JIIM leading to hospitalization in WA was stable over 30 years. JIIM prognosis remains suboptimal due to early mortality and accrual of long-term comorbidity.

Inflammatory Causes of Dysphagia in Children

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are the most common inflammatory causes of pediatric dysphagia, but several other less prevalent conditions should be considered. These conditions can affect one or several aspects of the swallowing process. In some inflammatory conditions dysphagia may be an early symptom. Esophagoscopy and instrumental swallow studies are often needed to determine the underlying diagnosis and best treatment plan. In some inflammatory conditions dysphagia can portend a worse outcome and need for more aggressive treatment of the underlying condition. Consultations with speech language pathology, gastroenterology, dietetics, allergy/immunology and/or rheumatology are often needed to optimize management.

Juvenile dermatomyositis complications: navigating gastrointestinal perforations and treatment challenges, a case report

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare autoimmune disorder with multi-system involvement, often presenting with a heliotrope rash, Gottron's papules, and proximal muscle weakness. JDM patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (anti-NXP2) positivity tend to have more severe manifestations, including a higher risk of gastrointestinal (GI) complications such as dysphagia, intestinal motility changes, edema, malabsorption, ulcers, and perforations. These complications are associated with poor outcomes and high mortality rates, particularly in patients with anti-NXP2 positivity. A case is presented of a 12-year-old girl with JDM who developed multiple GI perforations after being treated with high-dose methylprednisolone. Despite multiple surgical attempts, the patient experienced continued leakage and new perforations. The treatment approach was shifted to include jejunostomy, plasma exchanges, fresh frozen plasma support, and tofacitinib, leading to gradual improvement in muscle strength and reduction in inflammation. GI involvement in JDM is a significant concern due to its association with poor prognosis and high mortality. The use of high-dose glucocorticoids must be carefully considered in JDM patients with GI involvement, as they may contribute to the development of perforations and complicate treatment. A combination of plasma exchange, fresh frozen plasma support, low-dose glucocorticoids, and Janus kinase inhibitors may offer a safer treatment strategy for managing refractory JDM with GI complications. The case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and the need for further research to determine the necessity of high-dose glucocorticoid therapy following GI involvement in JDM.

Undercover lung damage in pediatrics - a hot spot in morbidity caused by collagenoses

Connective tissue represents the support matrix and the connection between tissues and organs. In its composition, collagen, the major structural protein, is the main component of the skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. Especially at the pediatric age, its damage in the context of pathologies such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma or dermatomyositis can have a significant negative impact on the development and optimal functioning of the body. The consequences can extend to various structures (e.g., joints, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys). Of these, we retain and reveal later in our manuscript, mainly the respiratory involvement. Manifested in various forms that can damage the chest wall, pleura, interstitium or vascularization, lung damage in pediatric systemic inflammatory diseases is underdeveloped in the literature compared to that described in adults. Under the threat of severe evolution, sometimes rapidly progressive and leading to death, it is necessary to increase the popularization of information aimed at physiopathological triggering and maintenance mechanisms, diagnostic means, and therapeutic directions among medical specialists. In addition, we emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially between pediatricians, rheumatologists, infectious disease specialists, pulmonologists, and immunologists. Through our narrative review we aimed to bring up to date, in a concise and easy to assimilate, general principles regarding the pulmonary impact of collagenoses using the most recent articles published in international libraries, duplicated by previous articles, of reference for the targeted pathologies.

Juvenile dermatomyositis with central nervous system involvement: two case reports from a retrospective single-center cohort, with literature review

Background

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily involving the muscles and skin; it can also affect the central nervous system (CNS). The relevant literature provides limited information regarding the characteristics of JDM with CNS involvement.

Method

We reviewed patients with JDM who were hospitalized at our center between January 2016 and August 2023, with a focus on those with CNS involvement. The aim was to provide detailed case reports on these patients, and to summarize the relevant literature about the characteristics of similar cases.

Results

Among 193 hospitalized patients with JDM, two (1.03%) had CNS involvement. Two patients, a 5.5-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, were admitted with severe proximal muscle weakness and seizures, and presented with active cutaneous vasculitis. Both were ultimately diagnosed with JDM, with CNS involvement. Both patients had confirmed presence of anti-NXP2 antibody through myositis-specific antibody analysis. Additionally, they all exhibited hyperferritinemia and thrombocytopenia. Salvage therapies like intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse therapy and/or plasma exchange were administered successfully. At final follow-up, both patients had achieved complete clinical response and full neurological recovery. Our literature review identified nine similar case studies. CNS involvement usually occurred within the first 10 months of the disease course, and most of these patients had fatal outcomes, with a mortality rate of 66.6% (6/9). Including the two patients described herein, the median age for disease onset is 10.5 years (range 4-17 years), and the male: female ratio is 6:5. Seizures are the most common neurological symptom, accompanied by active cutaneous vasculitis. The brain biopsies showed two distinct pathological presentations: one was central nervous system vasculitis, and the other was cerebral macrophage activation syndrome.

Conclusions

CNS involvement is a rare but life-threatening JDM complication. Herein, our cases and the literature indicate that it typically occurs within the first 10 months of the disease course and manifests as seizures, often accompanied by active cutaneous vasculitis, with fatal outcomes. Timely implementation of salvage therapies, like IVMP pulse therapy and plasma exchange, may significantly impact patient outcomes.

The relationship between infectious agents and juvenile dermatomyositis: a narrative update from the pediatric perspective

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the most common inflammatory myopathy affecting children, being marked by chronic inflammation which mostly impacts on both skin and skeletal muscles; diagnostic criteria of JDM include an unforeseeable mixture of clinical features, while treatment modalities commonly require corticosteroids or immunosuppressant agents. Although the pathogenesis of JDM is not completely understood, several infectious triggers have been linked to its priming via anecdotal reports related to children. Pediatric cases of recent-onset JDM have been temporally associated to an infectious disease by the power of increased titers of circulating antibodies to a putative infectious agent, including parasites, and/or detectable viral RNA or bacterial DNA. With this narrative review we offer an update about JDM association with a host of infections, namely parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie virus, human immune deficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Toxoplasma gondii, as resulting from the medical literature. Few are the evidence-proved results addressing JDM as an unambiguous post-infectious disorder and available data specifically related to children are poor, highlighting the need of further research into the exploration between environmental cut-out factors and JDM.

Erythema Infectiosum: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Erythema infectiosum occurs worldwide. School-aged children are most often affected. Since the diagnosis is mainly clinical, physicians should be well-versed in the clinical manifestations of erythema infectiosum to avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary investigations, and mismanagement of the disease.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this article is to familiarize physicians with the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and complications of erythema infectiosum associated with parvovirus B19 infection.

METHODS

A search was conducted in July 2022 in PubMed Clinical Queries using the key terms "Erythema infectiosum" OR "Fifth disease" OR "Slapped cheek disease" OR "Parvovirus B19". The search strategy included all clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews published within the past 10 years. Only papers published in the English literature were included in this review. The information retrieved from the above search was used in the compilation of the present article.

RESULTS

Erythema infectiosum is a common exanthematous illness of childhood caused by parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 spreads mainly by respiratory tract secretions and, to a lesser extent, the saliva of infected individuals. Children between 4 and 10 years of age are most often affected. The incubation period is usually 4 to 14 days. Prodromal symptoms are usually mild and consist of lowgrade fever, headache, malaise, and myalgia. The rash typically evolves in 3 stages. The initial stage is an erythematous rash on the cheeks, with a characteristic "slapped cheek" appearance. In the second stage, the rash spreads concurrently or quickly to the trunk, extremities, and buttocks as diffuse macular erythema. The rash tends to be more intense on extensor surfaces. The palms and soles are typically spared. Central clearing of the rash results in a characteristic lacy or reticulated appearance. The rash usually resolves spontaneously within three weeks without sequelae. The third stage is characterized by evanescence and recrudescence. In adults, the rash is less pronounced than that in children and is often atypical. Only approximately 20% of affected adults have an erythematous rash on the face. In adults, the rash is more frequently found on the legs, followed by the trunk, and arms. A reticulated or lacy erythema is noted in 80% of cases which helps to distinguish erythema infectiosum from other exanthems. Pruritus is noted in approximately 50% of cases. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. The many manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection can pose a diagnostic challenge even to the best diagnostician. Complications include arthritis, arthralgia, and transient aplastic crisis. In most cases, treatment is symptomatic and supportive. When parvovirus B19 infection occurs in pregnant women, hydrops fetalis becomes a real concern.

CONCLUSION

Erythema infectiosum, the most common clinical manifestation of parvovirus B19 infection, is characterized by a "slapped cheek" appearance on the face and lacy exanthem on the trunk and extremities. Parvovirus B19 infection is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Physicians should be aware of potential complications and conditions associated with parvovirus B19 infection, especially in individuals who are immunocompromised, chronically anemic, or pregnant.

Can vitamin D be an adjuvant therapy for juvenile rheumatic diseases?

Vitamin D, known for its essential role in calcium and bone homeostasis, has multiple effects beyond the skeleton, including regulation of immunity and modulation of autoimmune processes. Several reports have shown suboptimal serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in people with different inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic conditions, and an association between 25(OH)D levels, disease activity and outcomes. Although most available data pertain to adults, insights often are extended to children. Juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRDs) are a significant health problem during growth because of their complex pathogenesis, chronic nature, multisystemic involvement, and long-term consequences. So far, there is no definitive or clear evidence to confirm the preventive or therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation in JRDs, because results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have produced inconsistent outcomes. This review aims to explore and discuss the potential role of vitamin D in treating selected JRDs. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were comprehensively searched in June 2023 for any study on vitamin D supplementary role in treating the most common JRDs. We used the following keywords: "vitamin D" combined with the terms "juvenile idiopathic arthritis", "juvenile systemic scleroderma", "juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus", "juvenile inflammatory myopathies", "Behcet disease", "periodic fever syndromes" and "juvenile rheumatic diseases". Observational studies have found that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are lower in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile systemic scleroderma, Behcet disease and proinflammatory cytokine concentrations are higher. This suggests that vitamin D supplementation might be beneficial, however, current data are insufficient to confirm definitively the complementary role of vitamin D in the treatment of JRDs. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide, children and adolescents should be encouraged to supplement vitamin D according to current recommendations. More interventional studies, especially well-designed RCTs, assessing the dose-response effect and adjuvant effect in specific diseases, are needed to determine the potential significance of vitamin D in JRDs treatment.

Dermatomyositis: a comprehensive review of clinical manifestations, serological features, and therapeutic approaches

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune disorder, which belongs to a group of rare autoimmune dermatoses characterized by different skin features and variable muscle involvement. We recognize four main variants of DM: classic DM, clinically amyopathic DM, paraneoplastic DM, and juvenile DM. Clinically, patients show several skin features, but heliotrope rash, and violaceous papules located at the interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints (Gottron's papules) are the most frequently observed. Together with skin features, patients show muscle involvement, most commonly with symmetrical weakness of the proximal muscles. DM belongs to the facultative paraneoplastic dermatoses and a wide range of solid or hematologic malignancies can be detected in DM patients. Serologically, a wide range of autoantibodies can be detected in patients with DM. Indeed, distinct serotypes can be related to specific phenotypes with specific clinical features, carrying a different risk for systemic involvement and for malignancies. Systemic corticosteroids are still considered the first-line approach, but several steroid-sparing agents, such as methotrexate, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, have been reported as effective in treating DM. Furthermore, new class of drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, purified immunoglobulins or Janus kinase inhibitors are becoming more relevant in the clinical practice or are currently under investigation. In this work, we aim to offer a clinical overview of the diagnostic workout, the characteristics of DM variants, the role of autoantibodies in DM, and the management of this life-threatening systemic disorder.

Juvenile dermatomyositis and nephrotic syndrome: A case report and a mini literature review

Background

Renal involvement is rarely reported in juvenile dermatomyositis and may be caused by the toxic effects of myoglobinuria or an autoimmune reaction. We report a case of dermatomyositis and nephrotic syndrome in a child to explore the association between juvenile dermatomyositis and renal involvement.

Case presentation

An 8-year-old girl with skin rash, edema, proximal muscle weakness predominantly involving the lower extremities, low-grade fever, and foamy urine was admitted to our hospital. Her laboratory tests met the criteria of nephrotic syndrome. She had elevated creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase and was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis after electromyography and muscle MRI. Anti-NXP2 antibodies were positive. Her proteinuria was relieved soon after treatment with prednisone and methotrexate, but her muscle strength progressively decreased. The disease was relieved after pulse methylprednisolone treatment and mycophenolate mofetil, but recurred after drug reduction with mild proteinuria. Adalimumab was used for treatment and helped reduce the doses of glucocorticoid and mycophenolate mofetil.

Conclusion

Juvenile dermatomyositis may be one of the rare causes of nephrotic syndrome. The mechanism involved in JDM combined with renal injury may be multifactorial. Autoantibodies may play important roles in both muscle and renal damage.

Linear morphea with overlying lichen sclerosus and calcinosis cutis associated with juvenile dermatomyositis

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is associated with many distinguishing features including cutaneous calcinosis, vasculitis, and ulcerated lesions. In this case, we describe an unusual presentation in a 12-year-old girl who had muscle weakness along with linear morphea over the right upper and lower extremities with overlying lichen sclerosus and calcinosis cutis. Of interest, these initial cutaneous manifestations occurred years before onset of myositis.