Clinical characteristics and management of clinically amyopathic juvenile dermatomyositis across four academic centers.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Clinically amyopathic juvenile dermatomyositis (CAJDM) is an uncommon but important subset of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis, characterized by pathognomonic cutaneous findings without clinically evident muscle weakness. With limited data available and lack of standardized management guidelines for CAJDM, we sought to describe common features, including early indicators that may be associated with progression of muscle disease, and review the course and treatment of these patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with CAJDM was conducted at four North American academic centers between the years 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included, of whom 21 (72%) were female. After a median follow-up of 4 years (IQR 1.8-5.8 years), 5 of the 29 (17%) patients with CAJDM evolved into classic juvenile dermatomyositis. Median time to develop weakness was 12 months (IQR 8-19 months) after diagnosis. The skin disease of CAJDM patients who did not develop weakness was often found to be recalcitrant with 58% of them requiring multiple systemic therapies to control their cutaneous disease. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for long-term monitoring for the development of myositis in CAJDM and for prospective studies on treatment of recalcitrant skin disease.

Successful Treatment of Vitiligo Associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) is a rare multisystem disorder with cutaneous, ophthalmic, neurologic, and auditory manifestations. There is a paucity of published literature regarding the management of cutaneous features in VKH. We report a case of VKH-associated vitiligo responsive to topical corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors.

How Often are Pediatric Patients with Clinically Amyopathic Dermatomyositis Truly Amyopathic?

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients can present with skin manifestations of dermatomyositis without overt weakness (clinically amyopathic juvenile dermatomyositis [JDM]), but it is unclear how often this happens and how often they have subclinical muscle inflammation. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the frequency of clinically amyopathic JDM and the frequency with which a thorough evaluation uncovers subclinical myositis at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 46 patients diagnosed with JDM at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. RESULTS: Of 46 patients presenting with skin findings consistent with dermatomyositis, 10 patients (21.7%) did not have evidence of muscle involvement on history or exam, and these tended to be the younger patients. Of these 10, only 2 (4% of all the JDM patients) were truly amyopathic upon further evaluation (all five muscle enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and aldolase], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], muscle biopsy). In our series, muscle biopsy was not helpful in identifying subclinical myositis. In contrast, MRI did uncover subclinical muscle disease. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that truly amyopathic JDM is rare and that a thorough workup that includes all five muscle enzymes and MRI may uncover occult myositis.

Risk of dysphagia and speech and language delay in PHACE syndrome.

PHACE (posterior fossa, hemangioma, arterial lesions, cardiac, and eye) syndrome consists of infantile hemangiomas of the head and neck along with a spectrum of noncutaneous anomalies. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities have also been noted. Here we describe the association between PHACE syndrome and abnormalities in oropharyngeal development and coordination manifesting as dysphagia or speech and language delay. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 34 patients with PHACE syndrome. Data were collected from prior clinical notes and radiographic studies and the results of a comprehensive questionnaire that those who attended the July 2012 PHACE Syndrome Family Conference completed. Seventeen of 34 patients with PHACE syndrome and signs or symptoms of dysphagia or speech or language problems were included for analysis. Nine had dysphagia, seven had a history of cardiac surgery, four had a posterior fossa malformation, and seven had lip or oropharynx hemangiomas. Speech or language delay was noted in 16; posterior fossa abnormalities and lip or oropharynx hemangiomas were the most commonly seen associated finding in this group. There was considerable overlap between subset populations with dysphagia, speech delay, and language delay. A subset of individuals with PHACE syndrome experience dysphagia, speech delay, or language delay. This risk seems to be greater in certain subsets of patients, including those with posterior fossa malformations or lip or oropharynx hemangiomas and those with a history of cardiac surgery. Although this descriptive study was not comprehensive enough to examine prevalence, the high incidence of dysphagia and speech and language delay seen in our cohort warrants future prospective studies to further investigate the association.

The "biker-glove" pattern of segmental infantile hemangiomas on the hands and feet.

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) on the extremities have not been systematically studied. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the clinical characteristics and distribution patterns of IH affecting acral surfaces and to explore the relationship among these patterns, limb development, and IH pathogenesis. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study. Photographic archives from 4 tertiary pediatric dermatology referral centers were searched for patients with IH larger than 1 cm and involving 1 or more digit. Hemangioma location, distribution, and morphologic subtype were recorded. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical data. RESULTS: In all, 73 patients were identified. The most common IH pattern resembled that of a "biker glove" (73%), followed by localized IH on the distal digits (14%), segmental IH extending over the distal digits (8%), and intermediate patterns (5%). Overall, 63% of acral IH were segmental, 26% indeterminate, and 11% localized. Five patients had associated structural anomalies. Complications were noted in 33% of cases. LIMITATIONS: Limitations were retrospective study design; selection bias based on recall and photography; documentation and follow-up were not standardized across institutions; and treatment information may not reflect current approaches. CONCLUSION: Acral IH display specific patterns and are associated with a relatively high risk of ulceration.

Congenital cardiac, aortic arch, and vascular bed anomalies in PHACE syndrome (from the International PHACE Syndrome Registry).

PHACE syndrome represents the association of large infantile hemangiomas of the head and neck with brain, cerebrovascular, cardiac, ocular, and ventral or midline defects. Cardiac and cerebrovascular anomalies are the most common extracutaneous features of PHACE, and they also constitute the greatest source of potential morbidity. Congenital heart disease in PHACE is incompletely described, and this study was conducted to better characterize its features. This study of the International PHACE Syndrome Registry represents the largest central review of clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic data for cardiovascular anomalies in patients with PHACE to date. Sixty-two (41%) of 150 subjects had intracardiac, aortic arch, or brachiocephalic vessel anomalies. Aberrant origin of a subclavian artery was the most common cardiovascular anomaly (present in 31 (21%) of 150 subjects). Coarctation was the second most common anomaly, identified in 28 (19%) of 150 subjects, and can be missed clinically in patients with PHACE because of the frequent association of arch obstruction with aberrant subclavian origin. Twenty-three (37%) of 62 subjects with cardiovascular anomalies required procedural intervention. A greater percentage of hemangiomas were located on the left side of the head and neck in patients with coarctation (46% vs 39%); however, hemangioma distribution did not predict the presence of cardiovascular anomalies overall. In conclusion, PHACE is associated with a high risk of congenital heart disease. Cardiac and aortic arch imaging with detailed assessment of arch patency and brachiocephalic origins is essential for any patient suspected of having PHACE. Longitudinal investigation is needed to determine the long-term outcomes of cardiovascular anomalies in PHACE.

Association of hearing loss with PHACE syndrome.

BACKGROUND: PHACE syndrome describes a spectrum of anomalies associated with large facial infantile hemangiomas and characterized by posterior fossa malformations, hemangiomas, arterial anomalies, coarctation of the aorta and cardiac defects, and eye abnormalities. With improved recognition and imaging practices of infants with PHACE syndrome, additional associations have been identified. To our knowledge, the potential association of ipsilateral hearing loss and PHACE syndrome has not been previously emphasized. OBSERVATIONS: We describe 6 patients, 4 with definite and 2 with probable PHACE syndrome, according to the new diagnostic criteria, and associated auditory deficiencies. One patient had isolated conductive hearing loss; 2 patients had isolated sensorineural hearing loss; 1 patient had mixed hearing loss (both conductive and sensorineural components); and 1 patient had hearing loss that was inconclusive at the time. Also, 1 patient had conductive loss and auditory neuropathy and auditory dyssynchrony. Four of the 6 patients had magnetic resonance imaging features of lesions consistent with intracranial hemangiomas involving auditory structures. All 6 patients had facial hemangiomas in a nearly identical distribution ipsilateral to the ear with the hearing loss, with involvement of the proposed facial segments S1 and S3, the affected ear, the periauricular region, and the midoccipital area of the scalp. CONCLUSIONS: There is an underrecognized risk of hearing loss in patients with PHACE syndrome, although the exact nature of such deficiencies can vary. Patients with PHACE syndrome who have cutaneous hemangiomas involving the ear should be evaluated for intracranial hemangiomas and monitored for hearing loss. Early detection and therapy of intracranial hemangiomas may slow or stop tumor growth, resultant hearing loss, and structural damage.