Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Detection of Anti-MDA5 Autoantibodies Using HeLa Cells and Immunocytochemistry with Light Microscopy
Published on: October 31, 2025
Dermatomyositis in 132 patients with different clinical subtypes: cutaneous signs, constitutional symptoms and
A Parodi1, M Caproni, A V Marzano
1Department of Endocrinological and Metabolic Diseases, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy. rebdermo@unige.it
Abstract:
We retrospectively studied 132 patients with dermatomyositis; 84 had idiopathic, 30 paraneoplastic, 5 juvenile and 13 amyopathic forms of the disease. The commonest features were macular erythema, heliotropic erythema and Gottron's papules. Flagellate erythema occurred in 5% of patients with idiopathic dermatomyositis and correlated with the disease activity. Necrotic lesions were also found in this group of patients but did not always signal malignancy. The prevalence of malignancy was high (23%). Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in 10.6% of patients, also in those with malignancy. Dysphagia, interstitial lung disease and arthralgias affected 20%, 8% and 40% of patients, respectively. Anti-Jo-1 antibodies were found in 5% of patients with idiopathic dermatomyositis and low titre ANA in 1/3 of patients. ANA did not correlate with the disease activity. We confirmed the data from the literature, but no cutaneous sign, constitutional symptom or circulating antibody was found marking a particular subtype of the disease.
Related Concept Videos
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies