title: [Coexistence of hypothyroidism with polymyositis or dermatomyositis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle weakness with elevation of muscle enzymes may be a predominant manifestation of many diseases, among them myositis and hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1997 and 2005, polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) was diagnosed in 28 patients (7 males, 21 females) referred to our Department of Rheumatology. Coexistence of hypothyroidism and poly/dermatomyositis was established in seven patients (25%), all of them women. Five of them fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PM, two for DM. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 46.1 years (40-54 years). Four patients were diagnosed with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, in two patients the autoimmune etiology was probable, whereas one patient was diagnosed with hypothyroidism secondary to strumectomy for follicular adenoma. We present and compare signs and symptoms characteristic for hypothyroidism and poly/dermatomyositis. Hypothyroidism may be masked by symptoms of poly/ dermatomyositis especially when the course of myositis is rapid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Every patient suspected of poly/dermatomyositis should be tested for thyroid hormone levels to exclude hypothyroidism with muscle weakness arising from the polymyositis-like syndrome or alternatively to confirm the coexistence of hypothyroidism and poly/dermatomyositis.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Reumatologii Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-252 Szczecin.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukjanowicz
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bobrowska-Snarska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brzosko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate