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Prominent subcutaneous oedema as a masquerading symptom of an underlying inflammatory myopathy
Author(s) -
Anantharajah Anthea,
Vucic Steve,
Tarafdar Surjit,
Vongsuvanh Roslyn,
Wilcken Nicholas,
Swaminathan Sanjay
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.13324
Subject(s) - medicine , muscle biopsy , myositis , inflammatory myopathy , creatine kinase , myopathy , magnetic resonance imaging , muscle weakness , weakness , pathology , biopsy , inflammation , muscle disorder , subcutaneous tissue , radiology , surgery
The inflammatory myopathies are a group of immune‐mediated inflammatory muscle disorders that typically present with marked proximal muscle weakness. We report four cases of inflammatory myopathies with marked subcutaneous oedema as their main complaint. Three of the four patients had normal or low levels of creatine kinase, an enzyme often markedly elevated in these disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging of the muscles, followed by a muscle biopsy were used to make a definitive diagnosis.