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Dermatomyositis Skin Severity Index (DSSI) of Carroll et al

Description

The Dermatomyositis Skin Severity Index (DSSI) is based on the PASI (Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index) scoring system for psoriasis. The DSSI can be used over time and to monitor the patient's response to therapy. The authors are from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.


Patient selection: dermatomyositis

 

Parameters:

(1) body regions as percent of body surface area

(2) extent of body region affected

(3) extent of psoriatic changes (severity)

 

Body Region

Code

Percent Body Surface Area

head

H

10%

trunk

T

20%

upper extremities

U

30%

lower extremities

L

40%

 

 

Portion of Body Region Affected

Points for Anatomical Extent

0 (none)

0

< 10%

1

10 to 30%

2

31 to 50%

3

51 to 70%

4

71 to 90%

5

> 90%

6

 

 

Changes in DM

Code

erythema (redness)

R

induration

I

scaliness

S

 

 

Severity for Each Change

Points for Extent

none

0

mild

1

moderate

2

moderate to severe

3

severe

4

 

DSSI =

= SUM ((percent BSA in body region) * ((extent erythema in region) + (extent infiltration in region) + (extent desquamation in region)) * (extent of body region affected)) =

= ((0.1 * ((erythema head) + (induration head) + (scaliness head)) * (extent of head affected)) + ((0.2 * ((erythema trunk) + (induration trunk) + (scaliness trunk)) * (extent of trunk affected)) + ((0.3 * ((erythema upper extremities) + (induration upper extremities) + (scaliness upper extremities)) * (extent of upper extremities affected)) + ((0.4 * ((erythema lower extremities) + (induration lower extremities) + (scaliness lower extremities)) * (extent of lower extremities affected))

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score = 0

• maximum score = 72

• The higher the score the more severe the skin involvement..


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