The PRINTO provisional definition of remission in juvenile dermatomyositis

Methods 275 patients in active phase of JDM <18 years, median disease duration 7.7 months, were evaluated at baseline and 24 months. Out of 275 patients, all patients (39/ 275) who were off treatment at 24 months were defined as being in clinical remission and were included as the “gold standard” group. A random sample of patients (n=78) who were in an active phase of JDM at baseline and on medications at 24 months, were selected as the “comparison group”. Literature was reviewed for definitions of remission and in addition other definitions were tested which included PRINTO core set variables, muscle enzymes, and other JDM activity measures. Accuracy measurements were calculated: sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, Cohen’s kappa (≥0.8 almost perfect).