Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Detection of Anti-MDA5 Autoantibodies Using HeLa Cells and Immunocytochemistry with Light Microscopy
Published on: October 31, 2025
Dermatomyositis induced by drug therapy: a review of case reports
Anne M Seidler1, Alice B Gottlieb
1Department of Dermatology, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-1533, USA. anne.seidler@alumni.tufts.edu
Background:
Drugs have occasionally been implicated in dermatomyositis (DM) onset.
Objective:
We sought to review case reports of drug-induced DM.
Methods:
Articles were gathered from MEDLINE and bibliographies of acquired reports. Causality was assessed using World Health Organization criteria. Clinical characteristics, management, and resolution were examined.
Results:
In 70 reported cases, 50% of patients were female and the median age was 57 years. Hydroxyurea was implicated in 51% of cases. All cases had pathognomonic (76%) or compatible (24%) cutaneous findings. Hydroxyurea cases lacked myositis, but myositis was described in 79.4% of nonhydroxyurea cases. Drug causality was probable (25.7%) or possible (74.3%), but not certain in any case. Most patients had underlying pathology associated with DM (44% had malignancy; 16% had rheumatoid arthritis). Of the sample, 84.3% had improvement of DM after discontinuation of the drug.
Limitations:
Case reports may emphasize unusual findings.
Conclusions:
Further work is needed to differentiate drug effects from underlying, predisposing factors.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Myocarditis III: Medical Management
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...