title: Polymorphism of the cardiac manifestations in dermatomyositis.
abstract: Cardiac involvement in polymyositis and dermatomyositis usually is asymptomatic and rarely the principal clinical feature at the time of initial presentation. We describe a patient with dermatomyositis who presented with overt acute pericarditis which has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. Acute pulmonary edema resulting from documented acute myocarditis developed during a second exacerbation. Long-term follow-up failed to demonstrate new cardiac complications during subsequent exacerbations, adding to the known polymorphism of the heart involvement in these systemic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Tami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhasin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology