Criteria of Marie et al for Remission of Polymyositis or Dermatomyositis

Criteria for disease remission - all of the following:

(1) disappearance of skin lesions

(2) stable increase in muscle strength

(3) normal function in major organs (including heart, lungs and kidneys)

(4) normalization in serum muscle enzyme levels (CK, aldolase)

(5) normalization of electromyographic abnormalities

(6) improvements persists after therapy is discontinued

Only half of patients in remission were able to return to a previous level of activity.

Other outcomes:

(1) improvement: several features improve while on therapy

(2) deterioration: one or more features worsen despite maximal therapy