Late recurrence of childhood dermatomyositis

Patients with childhood dermatomyositis are generally categorized into one of 3 groups: limited or monocyclic, polycyclic, or continuous. Disease resolution in those with monocyclic disease after a period of 1 to 2 years is expected and those patients are not considered at life-long risk for connective tissue disease. We describe a patient, with an uncomplicated initial course, who had disease recurrence after 8 years of disease inactivity and almost 4 years after discontinuation of all medication.