Environmental factors associated with disease flare in juvenile and adult dermatomyositis

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2017

Journal

Rheumatology (United Kingdom)

Volume

56

Issue

8

DOI

10.1093/rheumatology/kex162

Keywords

Dermatomyositis; Disease flare; Environmental factors; Juvenile dermatomyositis

Abstract

© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. Objective. The aim was to assess environmental factors associated with disease flare in juvenile and adult dermatomyositis (DM).Methods. An online survey of DM patients from the USA and Canada examined smoking, sun exposure, infections, medications, vaccines, stressful life events and physical activity during the 6 months before flares, or in the past 6 months in patients without flares. Differences were evaluated by χ2 and Fisher's exact tests, and significant univariable results were examined in multivariable logistic regression. Residential locations before flare were correlated with the National Weather Service UV index. Results. Of 210 participants (164 juvenile and 46 adult DM), 134 (63.8%) experienced a disease flare within 2 years of the survey. Subjects more often reported disease flare after sun exposure [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, P = 0.03], although use of photoprotective measures did not differ between those with and without flare. Urinary tract infections (OR = 16.4, P = 0.005) and gastroenteritis (OR = 3.2, P = 0.04) were more frequent in the preceding 6 months in those who flared. Subjects who flared recently used NSAIDS (OR = 3.0, P = 0.0003), blood pressure medicines (OR = 3.5, P = 0.049) or medication for depression or mood changes (OR = 12.9, P = 0.015). Moving to a new house (OR = 10.3, P = 0.053) was more common in those who flared. Only sun exposure (OR = 2.2) and NSAIDs (OR = 1.9) were significant factors in multivariable analysis. Conclusion. Certain classes of environmental agents that have been associated with the initiation of DM, including sun exposure and medications, may also play a role in disease flares.

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