Chronological evaluation of the onset of histologically confirmed interstitial pneumonia associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to determine the chronological sequence of interstitial pneumonia, skin involvement, and muscle involvement associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM).


METHODS
We examined our own cases of histologically confirmed interstitial pneumonia associated with PM/DM. In addition, a review of the literature was done to evaluate other cases of histologically confirmed interstitial pneumonia associated with PM/DM. Lung involvement was the first clinical symptom for all of our 8 patients.


RESULTS
Including the literature review and our 8 cases, there were 94 patients with PM/DM in whom interstitial pneumonia was histologically confirmed (36 PM, 50 DM, and 8 amyopathic DM). Chronological evaluation between the diagnosis of PM/DM and lung involvement demonstrated that most lung involvement occurred just before or just after the diagnosis of PM/DM. Interstitial pneumonia was preceded in 35 of 87 evaluable patients [21 cases with PM (61.8%), 14 cases with DM and amyopathic DM (40.2%)]. In 60 of 87 evaluable patients (69.0%), lung involvement occurred as a clinical manifestation at the diagnosis of PM/DM.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data demonstrate that interstitial pneumonia was frequently the initial onset in patients with PM/DM.
Yang
Yu
Y
First Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, Kita-gun, Kagawa.
Fujita
Jiro
J
Tokuda
Michiaki
M
Bandoh
Shuji
S
Ishida
Toshihiko
T
D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D001323:Autoantibodies