Medical Student Research Forum Posters

Dermatomyositis (DM) is the most common idiopathic inflammatory condition defined by distinct skin manifestations and varying systemic manifestations. Due to its heterogeneity, the true prevalence is difficult to determine, but current estimates are between 1/10,000-50,000 persons. The cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis can be defined as: Pathognomonic: Gottron papules, Gottron sign, and heliotrope rash. Characteristic: nailfold changes, shawl sign, V-sign, Holster sign and scalp involvement. Compatible: poikiloderma, periorbital edema and facial swelling. Less common: vesiculobullous, necrotic or ulcerative lesions, cutaneous vasculitis, and calcinosis cutis. Rare: mechanic’s hands, flagellate erythema, deck chair sign, follicular hyperkeratosis, panniculitis, mucinosis, erythroderma, and oral mucosal changes. Nonspecific: Raynaud Systemic manifestations are variable, including myopathy, cardiopulmonary involvement, gastrointestinal disease, and malignancy.