[A case of amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial pneumonia: successful treatment with a combination of prednisolone and cyclosporin A]

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman visited our hospital in July 2002 with complaints of skin eruptions on the face and extremities, dry cough and dyspnea. A diagnosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) was made on the basis of characteristic skin lesions and skin biopsy findings with slight muscle symptoms and mild elevation of muscle enzymes. Interstitial shadows were observed in both lower lung fields on chest radiographs, and thoracoscopic lung biopsy specimens revealed a diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) pattern. After induction of chemotherapy with prednisolone (50 mg/day) and cyclosporin A (150 mg/day), the respiratory symptoms and interstitial shadows were gradually reduced. Although it is known that interstitial pneumonia has an acute course and poor prognosis in ADM, the present case responded well to the chemotherapy with prednisolone and cyclosporin A.