Persistent association of nailfold capillaroscopy changes and skin involvement over thirty-six months with duration of untreated disease in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis.

Objective: To determine the association of changes on nailfold capillaroscopy with clinical findings and genotype in children with juvenile dermatomyositis (DM), in order to identify potential differences in disease course over 36 months.

Methods: At diagnosis of juvenile DM in 61 children prior to the initiation of treatment, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) -308 allele and DQA1*0501 status was determined, juvenile DM Disease Activity Scores (DAS) were obtained, and nailfold capillaroscopy was performed. The disease course was monitored for 36 months.

Skin involvement in juvenile dermatomyositis is associated with loss of end row nailfold capillary loops.

Objective: To determine associations of dermatological findings in children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) with specific nailfold capillary (NFC) structural abnormalities.

Methods: Sixty newly diagnosed, previously untreated children who met the Bohan-Peter criteria for definite JDM were seen between 1993 and 2002. They were classified by duration of untreated disease and by a disease activity score (DAS) composed of separate subscores for dermatological (DAS skin) and musculoskeletal (DAS muscle) findings.