• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2019

Symmetrical proximal weakness and characteristic dermatologic manifestations are important in the diagnosis of dermatomyositis. We report a case of atypical presentation of dermatomyositis due to previous steroid use and also report steroid-induced myopathy which may occur from steroid administration during the course of treatment. A 77-year-old man, previous steroid user, showed rapidly progressing weakness after abruptly stopped medication. He has presented erythematous papule on face and anterior chest but no heliotrope rash and Gottron's papules were observed. Muscle enzyme (creatine kinase) concentration is increased, and needle electromyography shows increased spontaneous activity on proximal limb muscle. The muscle biopsy confirmed dermatomyositis. During the course of treatment, he revealed persistent weakness despite the continuous steroid use and stable creatine kinase level. Electrodiagnostic study suggests steroid-induced myopathy and after tapering steroid, proximal muscle strength improved. This case reports the effect of steroid use on dermatomyositis patients and a process of diagnosing coexisting steroid induced myopathy during treatment.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2011

Polymyositis is diffuse, inflammatory myopathy with proximal-muscle weakness due to lymphocyte infiltration to the muscle layer. The exact cause of the muscle weakness is unclear but may be related with an immunologic mechanism. Using high-dose steroid is the treatment of choice for polymyositis. It is difficult to distinguish steroid-resistant polymyositis from steroid myopathy, however, in the course of high-dose steroid therapy. These authors encountered a steroid myopathy patient during polymyositis treatment with high-dose steroid. A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with polymyositis and was treated with high-dose steroid. Her condition was initially improved, but in the course of the treatment, her symptom was aggravated without increasing the muscle enzymes. Her muscle weakness was improved by reducing the steroid dosage.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.149-161
• /
• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the improvement after the acupuncture therapy and herbal medicine about a patient who has latrogenic Cushing with steroid induced myopathy and compression fracture of L-spine. Methods : We treated the patient with Neutral Blood Stasis herbal acupuncture, acupuncture therapy and herbal medication. Results : We have experienced one case of latrogenic Cushing syndrome with steroid induced myopathy and compression fracture of L-spine. This case improved significantly through acupuncture and herbal medication treatment. Conclusions : This study suggests manual acupuncture therapy and herbal medication is effective for the improvement of latrogenic Cushing syndrome with steroid induced myopathy and compression fracture of L-spine.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2002

Among drug-induced myopathy, steroids are probably the most common cause. The risk of steroid myopathy(SM) increases with the dose and duration of use. It is typically a proximal myopathy, preferentially affecting the hip girdle muscles. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies are normal. The needle EMG is usually within the normal range or may be minimally abnormal. Occasionally, low-amplitude, short-duration MUAPs may be seen in the proximal muscles. Of note, abnormal spontaneous activity is not seen. This point is often very useful in differentiating polymyositis(PM) from SM. It is common for patients with PM to be treated with steroids, respond well, and then have the steroids tapered. If muscle weakness then returns, it may be very difficult to differentiate recurrent PM from SM on clinical grounds. The presence of abundant abnormal spontaneous activity strongly suggests PM rather than SM.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.6-15
• /
• 2006

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is the treatment of choice for many autoimmune neuropathic disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory Demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). IVIg is preferred because the adverse reactions are milder and fewer than the other immune-modulating methods such as steroid, other immunosuppressant such as azathioprine, and plasmapheresis. IVIg also has been used in other autoimmune neuromuscular disorders (inflammatory myopathy, myasthenia gravis, and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome) and has been known as safe and efficient agent in these disorders. Since IVIg would get more indications and be used more commonly, clinicians need to know the detailed mechanism of action, side effects, and practical points of IVIg.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.155-163
• /
• 2010

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory connective tissue disorder and a systemic autonomic immune disease which shows a progressive muscle weakness and characteristic rash. It is identified by a characteristic rash accompanying, or more often preceding muscle weakness. Pathognomonic skin lesions are a blue-purple discoloration on the upper eyelids with edema (heliotropic rash), a flat red rash on the face and upper trunk, and erythema of the knuckles with a raised violaceous scaly eruption (Gottron's papule). The myopathy represents inflammatory and degenerative changes primarily affecting proximal muscles. DM often involves GI tract and respiratory system with as risk of 15-25% internal malignancy. It's managed with sun protection since muscle weakness as well as a rash could be aggravated by sun exposure. Systemic corticosteroid is an initial therapy and other immunosuppressive agent has been used as alternatives. Facial muscles are unaffected and masticatory muscles are rarely affected in DM. We present trismus close to muscle contracture in a patient with DM. Therefore, it needs continuous mouth-opening exercise to prevent progressive muscle contracture and to ensure normal mouth opening.