Abstract:

Objective To assess the relationship between Gottron papules and interstitial lung disease （ILD） in patients with dermatomyositis. Methods Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 83 patients with dermatomyositis （DM）, who were classified into two groups based on the presence of Gottron papules. Results The prevalence of Gottron papules and ILD was 59.0% and 42.2%, respectively in these patients. A significant difference was observed in the incidence of ILD between patients with and without Gottron papules （24.5% vs 67.6%, P < 0.01）. In the patients with ILD, the average value of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide （DLCO） in those without Gottron papules was significantly lower than that in those with Gottron papules （60.9 ± 13.5 vs 72.3 ± 12.7, t = 2.427, P < 0.05）. No significant difference was observed between the patients with Gottron papules and those without in muscle strength （4.0 ± 0.9 vs 3.8 ± 1.2）, the level of serum creatine phosphokinase （1047.9 ± 1402.7 IU/L vs 1359.7 ± 1752.4 IU/L）, lactic acid dehydrogenase （397.2 ± 226.5 IU/L vs 402.4 ± 197.0 IU/L）, aspartate aminotransferase （97.6 ± 98.0 IU/L vs 120.1 ± 82.3 IU/L），C reactive protein （11.9 ± 8.3 mg/L vs 15.5 ± 9.8 mg/L）, erythrocyte sedimentation rate （26.5 ± 16.4 mm/1 h vs 33.3 ± 25.3 mm/1 h）, the incidence of muscle tenderness （63.3% vs 70.6%） or malignant melanoma （21.4% vs 6.5%）. Conclusions Patients presenting Gottron papules tend to show a decreased incidence and severity of ILD. No significant association was observed between the presence of Gottron papules and the degree of muscle changes or dermatomyositis activity, and the presence of Gottron papules seems to have no obvious relationship to the development of malignant melanoma.

Key words: Dermatomyositis, Gottron's eruption，interstitial lung disease