Hypercapnic coma due to diaphragmatic involvement in a patient with dermatomyositis

L.M. Astudillo, M. Carreiro, L. Sailler, C.F. Dingremont, P.M. Arlet

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Rangueil-Larrey, Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

ABSTRACT
We report an acute respiratory distress by diaphragmatic involvement due to dermatomyositis. A fifty year-old patient with typical dermatomyositis presented an acute respiratory insufficiency with hypercapnic coma due to diaphragmatic muscle involvement. Respiratory state required mechanical ventilation initially and improved secondarily gradually upon corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. Only few cases of acute respiratory distress in dermatomyositis due to respiratory muscle involvement are reported in literature.

Key words
Dermatomyositis, respiratory insufficiency, immunoglobulins (intravenous), muscular  diseases.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2001; 19: 456-458.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2001.