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Penicillamine‐induced myositis in rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Morgan G. James,
McGuire James L.,
Ochoa José
Publication year - 1981
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.880040210
Subject(s) - polymyositis , medicine , muscle biopsy , myositis , rheumatoid arthritis , biopsy , dermatomyositis , dermatology , nerve biopsy , complication , vasculitis , pathology , disease , peripheral neuropathy , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed multiple mononeuropathies multiplex was shown to have vasculitis in nerve biopsy, but no evidence of inflammatory muscle disease in muscle biopsy. Treatment with penicillamine caused the rare complication of polymyositis, documented clinically, electrophysiologically, and by light and electron microscopy in a second muscle biopsy. The evidence presented supports the concept that penicillamine may induce polymyositis or aggravate a preexisting low‐grade myositis.