Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a systemic autoimmune
condition with myopathy. Gastrointestinal and pulmonary
manifestations are rare presentation of JDM.
Gastrointestinal perforation incidence in JDM is associated
with vasculopathy and ischaemia. There are only few
reported case of management of JDM with gastrointestinal
complication. Management of such condition is challenging.
We present a 21-year-old man with spontaneous descending
colon perforation undergoing Hartmann’s procedure. He
subsequently presented with recurrent retroperitoneal
abscess at five and 30 months following the initial
presentation which was treated with percutaneous drainage.
A high index of suspicion is necessary in JDM patients
presenting with acute abdomen