Respiratory involvement in juvenile dermatomyositis

Materials and methods 16 patients (9 girls) with diagnosis of JDM (age 3–16,2 yrs) performed pulmonary function tests (PFT). 14 were receiving treatment; all had muscular testing. 13 had weakness as major symptom. Respiratory symptoms: dry cough in 2/16; reduced exercise tolerance: 3/16. Chest xray: normal in 13/13. Echocardiogram and ECG: normal in all. 9/16 had positive ANA-Ab; antiJO1 Ab negative in all.