PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Elisabeth F Elst AU - Sylvia S M Kamphuis AU - Berent J Prakken AU - Nicolas M Wulffraat AU - Janjaap van der Net AU - A C Boudewyn Peters AU - Wietse Kuis TI - Case report: severe central nervous system involvement in juvenile dermatomyositis. DP - 2003 Sep 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - 2059--2063 VI - 30 IP - 9 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/30/9/2059.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/30/9/2059.full SO - J Rheumatol2003 Sep 01; 30 AB - We present 3 patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and severe central nervous system (CNS) complications. All patients had at least 4 positive criteria of Bohan and Peter, which confirmed a definite diagnosis of JDM. They were all male, and had a relatively high creatinine kinase value at admission (1532-4260 U/l). Besides, progressive proximal muscle weakness and rash, one patient presented with rapid irreversible decline of vision. Ophthalmologic examination showed active vasculitis of the retina. After 2 weeks of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs and being in improved, relatively stable clinical condition, all 3 patients developed generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. Other causes of the neurological symptoms could be excluded. In all 3 patients, the course of JDM was fatal. The clinical symptoms and further investigations in our patients show CNS involvement in JDM. Although rarely reported, CNS vasculopathy can be a serious and life-threatening complication of JDM.