Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and dermatomyositis may be a not so rare association: report of a case and review of the literature.
One patient with dermatomyositis (DM) who developed spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPnM) is described. A review of 15 previously reported cases shows that this is a complication of DM but not of polymyositis. It occurs in young patients with recent onset of disease characterized by cutaneous vasculopathy, and patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs have, in general, better outcomes. We suggest that the onset of SPnM in DM patients must alert to possible vasculitic activity and that immunosuppressive agents with progressive tapering of corticosteroids are part of the most reasonable approach in these cases.
Neves
Fabricio de Souza
Fde S
Division of Rheumatology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. nevesfab@bol.com.br
de Souza Neves
Fabricio
F
Shinjo
Samuel Katsuyuki
SK
Carvalho
Jozélio Freire
JF
Levy-Neto
Maurício
M
Borges
Cláudia Tereza Lobato
CT
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000150:complications*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents