title: Chronic pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema: association with dermatomyositis.
abstract: We describe a 41-year-old patient with adult-onset dermatomyositis who developed persistent pneumomediastinum and severe subcutaneous emphysema due to end-stage interstitial lung disease. The diagnosis of dermatomyositis was based on proximal muscle weakness, electromyographic findings of inflammatory myopathy, and positive findings on muscle biopsy. Low levels of creatine kinase elevation were found at the time of diagnosis (a form of dermatomyositis which has been associated with a poor prognosis). The patient had no signs of cutaneous vasculitis. Despite treatment with prednisone and azathioprine, she died of intercurrent gram-negative sepsis 15 months after the diagnosis of dermatomyositis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Juan Canalejo Hospital, La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Toro Santos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verea-Hernando
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanco-Aparicio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres Lanzas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pombo Felipe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013908:Thoracotomy
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone