Document Type : Case reports
Authors
Pulmonologist, Lung Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic connective tissue disease with a wide range of systemic manifestations. Progressive proximal skeletal muscle weakness and symmetric and inflammatory infiltrates are the main clinical and histological features of DM.
Case presentation: In this study, we report the case of a 43-year-old male with DM and early pulmonary manifestations. A 50 mg/g daily dose of prednisolone was administered for the case. The symptoms of muscle weakness improved after 2 weeks. Commonly, pulmonary diseases occur after the occurrence of other connective tissue diseases. However, in the present case, pulmonary manifestations were observed many years before the incidence of DM symptoms.
Conclusions: The DM with pulmonary involvement is associated with worse outcomes; accordingly, a higher rate of mortality is reported among these patients. Based on the literature, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are reliable markers for the diagnosis of DM, along with lung problems.
Keywords
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