Open AccessMyopathy in a 61-year-old Hispanic man
Author(s) -
Gary Parizher,
Timothy J. Brown,
Mary Hon,
Elena K. Joerns,
Yu Zuo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-228892
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatomyositis , rash , muscle biopsy , dysphagia , weakness , myositis , proximal muscle weakness , differential diagnosis , etiology , muscle weakness , dermatology , pediatrics , surgery , biopsy , pathology
A 61-year-old Hispanic man presented to a county hospital for subacute progressive weakness, heliotrope rash and dysphagia. There was initial suspicion for dermatomyositis (DM) given the history; however, the physical exam was not consistent. An MRI followed by a muscle biopsy revealed necrotising autoimmune myositis and anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-coenzyme A-reductase antibody titers returned positive; the patient was diagnosed with necrotising autoimmune myositis. He was treated with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, which resulted in improvement in his weakness and functional status. This case represents a unique instance in which a cardinal feature of DM, the heliotrope rash, prompted an erroneous initial diagnosis. It highlights the necessity of developing abroad differential diagnosis and subsequent thorough investigation into patients presenting with suspected idiopathic immune-mediated myopathies.