Myocardial fibrosis in polymyositis.
Myocardial involvement in polymyositis is commonly suspected in noninvasive studies, but symptomatic cardiac disease is rare. We describe a 27-year-old woman with a 6 year history of severe polymyositis and persistent elevation of creatine phosphokinase-MB isoenzyme who suddenly developed congestive heart failure and bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. Autopsy revealed severe myocardial fibrosis without inflammatory cell infiltrates concomitant to active polymyositis of the skeletal muscles despite intensive longterm immunosuppressive therapy.
Anders
H J
HJ
Medizinische Poliklinik and 2 Pathologisches Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Wanders
A
A
Rihl
M
M
Krüger
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000209:etiology; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology