title: Acute dermatomyositis with subcutaneous generalized edema.
abstract: The authors report a 40-year-old Caucasian man with relapsing muscle and skin involvement of dermatomyositis treated with high-dose corticosteroids, taken orally, and methotrexate and human gamma globulin, both administered intravenously. After 4 months of aggressive treatment, he presented with generalized edema, considered secondary to dermatomyositis. Aggressive immunosuppression did not stop disease progression. The literature concerning anasarca due to inflammatory myopathies is revised.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Distrito de Barão Geraldo, 13081-970, Campinas-SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gláucio R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Werner de Castro
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appenzeller
authors.forename: Manoel B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bértolo
authors.forename: Lílian T L
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Costallat
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue; D017211:Treatment Failure; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate