Clinical research: photo validation study using Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI) scores in patients with dermatomyositis

In this study, we evaluated Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI) scores calculated from photos taken by trained clinic staff. We found excellent reliability between photographs and an in-person scoring of the CDASI activity portion in patients with dermatomyositis although the CDASI may be underestimated from photographs. More research is needed to determine if photographs taken outside the office setting may be used to assess clinical trials outcomes.