is the diagnosis of dermatomyositis made?
Brief answer: When the skin rash of dermatomyositis has fully developed, it can be diagnosed by its appearance alone. A small skin biopsy can be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. A number of other conditions can cause muscle weakness. Therefore, diagnosing dermatomyositis as the cause of muscle weakness can be more challenging. A combination of muscle strength testing, blood tests, tests of muscle electrical activity, radiologic (x-ray) imaging of muscles, and muscle biopsy is often required to confirm the diagnosis of dermatomyositis as the cause of muscle weakness. More complete answer: When the skin rash of dermatomyositis has fully developed, it can be diagnosed by its appearance alone. A small skin biopsy can be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnosing dermatomyositis as the cause of muscle weakness can be more challenging. In addition to the characteristic skin rash and muscle weakness, certain blood tests are often abnormal in patients with classical dermatomyositis.
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- is the diagnosis of dermatomyositis made?
