[Toxoplasmosis and dermatomyositis: a causal or casual relationship?]

A case of a 10 year old girl with typical clinical, cutaneous and muscular picture of dermatomyositis and positive serological investigation for toxoplasmosis with neurological complications (hemiparesis and headache) is reported. In literature several case reports have suggested an association between acquired toxoplasmosis and polymyositis-dermatomyositis. A review of previous examples of this association is presented and the possible relationships between the disease are discussed. Although a certain causal relationship is not always established, we suggest that patients with active polymyositis or dermatomyositis should be studied serologically for toxoplasmosis, especially if steroid or immunosuppressive therapy is contemplated. We underline the importance, in these cases, of appropriate antiprotozoal therapy, that, in our experience and in most data reported in other cases, produces clinical benefit.