Childhood Dermatomyositis and Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adulthood

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an inflammatory disease that can cause disability and even death if left untreated. In the past, standard care was primarily administration of corticosteroids. The disease often becomes quiescent or remits as affected children move through adolescence into adulthood. The disease itself or its treatment with corticosteroids might predispose individuals to later cardiovascular disease.

These authors sought to compare adults who had had JDM with healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body-mass index. From a database of more than 400 patients, the investigators were able to find and enroll only 8 patients, who were matched with 16 control subjects. They measured carotid intima media thickness and brachial ar…