Dermatomyositis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Disseminated Lupus Erythematosus

“…A moderate leucocytosis may occur if secondary infection supervenes. A marked thrombocytopaenia is an occasional finding, and many publications include case reports of patients who have undergone splenectomy for thrombocytopaenic purpura some years before the full clinical picture of disseminated lupus erythematosus became apparent (Keil, 1940; Plotz et al , 1950). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is frequently accelerated.…”

“…Rheumatic fever may be closely mimicked if polyarthritis occurs in a young patient with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus. Tender indurations in the deep musculo‐fascial planes may appear, and may simulate a dermatomyositis; such similarities led Keil (1940) to make a detailed comparative study of these two clinical syndromes. Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in disseminated lupus erythematosus and suggests its association with scleroderma, another member of the collagenoses.…”

Section of Pædiatrics

“…C. H. Edwards, who confirmed the neurological condition described, and of Dr. P. Cardew who was responsible for the film. Mr The points in favour of dermatomyositis are the prolonged generalized muscle weakness, the cardiomegaly and heart failure (Keil, 1940;Roch et al, 1946), and the histological appearance of the muscle (Fig. 2).…”