An Unusual Presentation of Dermatomyositis: The Type Wong Variant Revisited
November 2000
in “
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
”
TLDR A woman with a rare type of dermatomyositis improved with low-dose prednisone and methotrexate.
The document described a 53-year-old woman with dermatomyositis (DM) who also exhibited features of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) and histologic signs of porokeratosis, leading to generalized erythematous eruption, muscle weakness, and diffuse scalp hair loss. Initial treatments with corticosteroids and methotrexate showed minimal improvement, but a regimen of low-dose prednisone and methotrexate eventually resulted in significant improvement, including hair regrowth. The case underscored the importance of malignancy screening in DM patients and the need for dermatologists to monitor cutaneous eruptions closely. The document revisited the type Wong variant of DM, referencing studies and case reports, and discussed prognostic factors, predictive signs of malignancy, and the association with conditions like porokeratosis and immunosuppression.