Acute dermatomyositis associated with generalized subcutaneous edema.

Acute dermatomyositis associated with generalized subcutaneous edema.

Rheumatol Int. 2008 Jan 12

Lee KH, Lim SR, Kim YJ, Lee KJ, Myung DS, Jeong HC, Yoon W, Lee SS, Park YW.
Department of Rheumatology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, 8 Hak-dong, Dong-ku, Gwangju, 501-757, Republic of Korea, parkyw@chonnam.ac.kr.

Generalized subcutaneous edema is an uncommon manifestation of inflammatory myopathy. We report a 48-year-old female patient who presented with severe generalized edema, an erythematous skin rash, dysphagia and proximal muscle weakness. She was diagnosed with dermatomyositis from the clinical signs, increased muscle enzymes, electromyographic findings and a muscle biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased signal intensity in the muscular and subcutaneous layers. The conditions causing generalized edema were excluded. It was concluded that the generalized edema was secondary to dermatomyositis. Aggressive treatments with high-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents were used to control the severe subcutaneous edema.

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