Papules and pustules of the elbows and knees: An uncommon clinical sign ofdermatomyositis in oriental children

We report two children with dermatomyositis in whom the initial manifestati on was a papular eruption on the extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees. In each there was a follicular component to the eruption and one child had pustular lesions. The extensor eruption predated the onset of muscle weakn ess by 1 year in the first child and by 2 years in the second. Both childre n had Vietnamese parents. There is some evidence in the literature that Ori ental patients may be predisposed to this type of eruption.