Another Inflammatory Disease Linked to Thrombosis?

Dermatomyositis may be associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, but sketchy data preclude a definitive conclusion.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to increased risk for ischemic disease of the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vasculature. Some reports suggest that dermatomyositis — a systemic disorder characterized by inflammation of the skin and muscles — is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.

These authors used a Taiwanese national insurance database to compare 907 patients with new dermatomyositis diagnoses (identified by ICD-9 code) during 2001 with 4535 age- and sex-matched individuals without dermatomyositis. The primary outcome included a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke during the subsequent 2 years; no diagnoses were independently verified. To reduce or eliminate the effects of corticoste…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)