Spontaneous recovery of dermatomyositis and unspecified myositis in three adult patients

Abstract

Dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis and unspecified myositis are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in which prednisone is usually started as soon as the diagnosis has been established. Therefore, little is known about the natural history of these diseases and spontaneous recovery may escape attention. Here, we present three patients who achieved remission without administration of immunosuppressants. In these three patients, treatment was not started because of spontaneously improving symptoms and signs during the diagnostic process. After 3–5 years, all patients are still free of muscle weakness. These case reports demonstrate that spontaneous long lasting remission can occur in a small proportion of patients with subacute onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. In some patients, immunosuppressive treatment with the risk of serious side effects can perhaps be omitted. However, close and frequent monitoring is required in these instances.