Not just eosinophilic fasciitis.

Abstract

This case report describes a rare case of progressive muscle weakness in a patient treated for eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) for many years before being diagnosed with a second autoimmune disease: dermatomyositis. Our case is a report of a 65-year-old male diagnosed with eosinophilic fasciitis 7 years before being evaluated in our service at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, due to progressive muscle weakness despite the chronic treatment with methotrexate. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the lower extremity showed enhancement throughout the thigh musculature, which led us to pursue biopsies of the fascia and muscle in order to confirm the diagnosis of EF associated with myopathy. This case illustrates the need to consider the possibility of myopathy in patients diagnosed with EF whenever muscle weakness is more prominent than expected.

• Authors: Razvan Chirila, Elena Raluca Cristea, Monica Roxana Purcarea, Laura Carina Tribus
• Journal: Journal of medicine and life (J Med Life) 2021 Jan-Mar Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 121-124 ISSN: 1844-3117 [Electronic] Romania
• PMID: 33767797 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: ©2020 JOURNAL of MEDICINE and LIFE.

Chemical References

• Methotrexate

Topics

• Aged
• Biopsy
• Elbow Joint (pathology)
• Eosinophilia (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Fascia (pathology)
• Fasciitis (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Methotrexate (therapeutic use)
• Muscles (pathology)
• Muscular Atrophy (pathology)
• Skin (pathology)