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Concomitant dermatomyositis and myasthenia gravis presenting with respiratory insufficiency
Author(s) -
Van De Warrenburg Bart P.C.,
Hengstman Gerald J.D.,
Vos Pieter E.,
Boerman Rudolph H.,
Ter Laak Henk J.,
Van Engelen Baziel G.M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.10022
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , concomitant , medicine , dermatomyositis , respiratory system , cardiology , dermatology
We report a 28‐year‐old woman with a history of chronic immune‐mediated hepatitis, in whom the simultaneous manifestation of dermatomyositis and myasthenia gravis resulted in severe neck extensor weakness and subacute respiratory insufficiency, followed by proximal muscle weakness and external ophthalmoplegia. Radiological signs of a thymoma were absent. The distinguishing clinical, electrophysiological, and biopsy findings are discussed. We suggest that an underlying immunoregulatory disorder was present, explaining the occurrence of three rare immune‐mediated diseases in one patient. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 293–296, 2002 DOI 10.1002/mus.10022