title: Acute dermatomyositis associated with generalized subcutaneous edema.
abstract: Generalized subcutaneous edema is an uncommon manifestation of inflammatory myopathy. We report a 48-year-old female patient who presented with severe generalized edema, an erythematous skin rash, dysphagia and proximal muscle weakness. She was diagnosed with dermatomyositis from the clinical signs, increased muscle enzymes, electromyographic findings and a muscle biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased signal intensity in the muscular and subcutaneous layers. The conditions causing generalized edema were excluded. It was concluded that the generalized edema was secondary to dermatomyositis. Aggressive treatments with high-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents were used to control the severe subcutaneous edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Ryoun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Yeon-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Ju
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae-Seong
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.forename: Hae-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Woong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Shin-Seok
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography