Lupus and dermatomyositis are two diseases that may have some symptoms in common. However, they are very distinct diseases with different causes and management regimes.
The key difference between lupus and dermatomyositis syndrome is their nature; lupus is a common disease that causes inflammation, which can affect the skin, joints, blood, and organs like the kidneys, lungs, and heart, while dermatomyositis is a rare disease that causes muscle weakness and rashes on the skin.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lupus
3. What is Dermatomyositis
4. Similarities – Lupus and Dermatomyositis
5. Lupus vs Dermatomyositis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lupus vs Dermatomyositis
7. FAQ – Lupus and Dermatomyositis
What is Lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that makes the immune system cause damage to organs and tissues throughout the body. It results in inflammation, which can affect the skin, joints, blood, and organs like your kidneys, lungs, and heart. The most common symptoms of lupus may include joint pain, muscle pain or chest pain, skin rashes (butterfly rash), fever, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen glands, swelling in the arms, legs, and the face, confusion, and blood clots. Lupus can be caused by genetic mutations, hormones, environmental factors (pollution and exposure to sunlight), and health history (smoking, stress level, and other autoimmune diseases).
Figure 01: Lupus
Lupus can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood test, urinalysis, antinuclear antibody test (ANA), and biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for lupus may include using hydroxychloroquine, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), taking prescribed corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants.
What is Dermatomyositis?
Dermatomyositis is a form of polymyositis that affects the skin in addition to the muscles. The common symptoms of dermatomyositis may include muscle weakness, skin rash, discolouration and bumps, calcium deposits in skin, muscles or connective tissue, bumps in the knees and elbows, ragged cuticles and prominent blood vessels on the fingernail folds, and joint pain. Dermatomyositis can be caused by genetic disorders, autoimmune issues, viral infections, and environmental factors (living areas of higher pollution and lower air quality).
Figure 02: Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, biopsy, MRI, chest X-rays, and electromyography (EMG). Furthermore, treatment options include taking corticosteroids, physical therapy, immune-suppressant medicines, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and speech therapy.
Similarities Between Lupus and Dermatomyositis
- Lupus and dermatomyositis are two diseases that may have some symptoms in common, such as skin rashes.
- Both may be caused by genetic mutations and autoimmune issues.
- Both can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.
Difference Between Lupus and Dermatomyositis
Definition
- Lupus is an autoimmune disease that makes the immune system damage organs and tissues throughout the body.
- Dermatomyositis is a form of polymyositis that affects the skin in addition to the muscles.
Causes
- Lupus is caused by genetic mutations, hormones, environmental factors (pollution and exposure to sunlight), and health history (smoking, stress level, and other auto-immune diseases).
- Dermatomyositis is caused by genetic disorders, autoimmune issues, viral infections, and environmental factors (living areas of higher pollution and lower air quality).
Symptoms
- Symptoms of lupus include joint pain, muscle pain or chest pain, skin rashes (butterfly rash), fever, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen glands, swelling in the arms, legs on the face, confusion, and blood clots.
- Symptoms of dermatomyositis include weakness, skin rash, discoloration and bumps, calcium deposits in skin, muscles, or connective tissue, bumps in the knees and elbows, ragged cuticles and prominent blood vessels on the fingernail folds, and joint pain.
Diagnosis
- Lupus can be diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, blood test, urinalysis, antinuclear antibody test (ANA), and biopsy.
- Dermatomyositis can be diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, biopsy, MRI, chest X-rays, and electromyography (EMG).
Treatment
- Treatment options for Lupus include using hydroxychloroquine, non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), taking prescribed corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants.
- Treatment options for dermatomyositis include taking corticosteroids, physical therapy, immune-suppressant medicines, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and speech therapy.
The infographic below presents the differences between lupus and dermatomyositis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Lupus vs Dermatomyositis
Lupus and dermatomyositis are two diseases that may share some symptoms. Both these conditions usually affect women more than men. However, lupus is a common disease that causes inflammation, which can affect the skin, joints, blood and organs like the kidneys, lungs, and heart while dermatomyositis is a rare disease that causes muscle weakness and rashes on the skin. Thus, this summarizes the difference between lupus and dermatomyositis.
FAQ: Lupus and Dermatomyositis
1. What is the main cause of lupus?
- It’s most likely that lupus may result from a combination of your genetics and the environment. It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environmental factors.
2. Is lupus life-threatening?
- Lupus can range from mild to severe. The most common forms of lupus are milder forms, and most people enjoy a full life. Lupus is only life-threatening in rare cases when the immune system attacks important organs such as the heart and kidneys.
3. Can lupus be treated?
- Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure. This means that you can manage it with treatment, but it will not go away. Treatment for lupus may include using hydroxychloroquine, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants.
4. What is the main cause of dermatomyositis?
- The exact cause of dermatomyositis is unknown. Experts think it may be due to genetic disorders, autoimmune issues, viral infections, and environmental factors (living in areas of higher pollution and lower air quality). It may also occur in people who have cancer in the abdomen, lungs, or other parts of the body.
5. What is the first treatment for dermatomyositis?
- The first-line treatment of muscle weakness in dermatomyositis is systemic glucocorticoids with or without immunosuppressants. Other treatments may include taking corticosteroids, physical therapy, immunosuppressant medicines, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and speech therapy.
Reference:
1. “Lupus.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Dermatomyositis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Lupus erythematosus Wellcome L0070513” By Welcome Image Gallery (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Dermatomyositis3” By Elizabeth M. Dugan, Adam M. Huber, Frederick W. Miller, Lisa G. Rider –dermatology.cdlib.org (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
