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CHRONIC POLYMYOSITIS: COMPLETE HEART BLOCK AND CRYOGLOBULINÆMIA
Author(s) -
Gollan J. L.,
Blumbergs P.,
Kimber C. L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb50733.x
Subject(s) - cryoglobulin , medicine , polymyositis , cyclophosphamide , heart failure , antisynthetase syndrome , dermatomyositis , cardiology , cryoglobulinemia , chemotherapy , interstitial lung disease , immunology , hepatitis c virus , virus , lung
A case of polymyositis with a clinical history extending over 6 years is presented. Unusual features were complete heart block, cryoglobulinæmia and severe Raynaud's disease. Treatment with cyclophosphamide commenced at a late stage of the illness was associated with transient clinical and biochemical improvement of the muscle disease. The course of immunosuppressive therapy was too short to be reflected by a fall in concentration of the cryoglobulin. Introduction of high dose corticosteroids and increase in cyclophosphamide dosage were related in time to a severe generalized deterioration in the patient's condition and death due to respiratory complications.