title: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and dermatomyositis may be a not so rare association: report of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. nevesfab@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Fabricio de Souza
authors.initials: Fde S
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Fabricio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Souza Neves
authors.forename: Samuel Katsuyuki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shinjo
authors.forename: Jozélio Freire
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy-Neto
authors.forename: Cláudia Tereza Lobato
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents