Postpartum-onset dermatomyositis: case report and literature review

Abstract

Dermatomyositis (DM) is rare during the reproductive period, but when it does occur most reports have noted that it has an adverse effect on fetal outcome. Conversely, there is little information concerning the contribution of pregnancy to the development and course of DM. We describe here a patient with DM that developed after delivery of an infant and summarize previously documented cases of postpartum-onset DM. This case suggests that pregnancy could be a trigger for the development of DM.