Increased Autoimmune Disease Found in Families of Children with Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Autoimmune diseases often cluster in families. Investigators assessed whether this phenomenon occurs in families of children with dermatomyositis. They relied on data collected by one physician examiner who, over the course of 37 years, conducted structured, three-generation interviews of families of 304 children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JD). Interviews were carried out on first visit to the clinic and every 36 months thereafter. Specific questions were asked regarding the following autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, scleroderma, vasculitis, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and thyroiditis.…