Title

Polyarteritis nodosa presenting with clinical and radiologic features suggestive of polymyositis.

Authors

Haroon, Muhammad; Bermingham, Niamh; Keohane, Catherine; Harney, Sinead

Abstract

We report a patient who presented with clinical and MRI findings suggestive of polymyositis but, in whom, muscle biopsy disclosed a strikingly different diagnosis. A 65-year-old woman presented with 3-week history of bilateral proximal muscle pain and weakness. Laboratory investigations showed markedly elevated inflammatory markers and mildly elevated muscle enzymes. MRI scans of lower limbs showed features suggestive of polymyositis. However, muscle biopsy showed features of a polyarteritis-type vasculitis affecting an intramuscular blood vessel. Our reports highlight the critical role of muscle biopsy in establishing the correct diagnosis in patients with suspected myositis.

Subjects

CASE studies; POLYARTERITIS nodosa; MYALGIA; BIOMARKERS; MAGNETIC resonance imaging; POLYMYOSITIS; BIOPSY; PATIENTS

Publication

Rheumatology International, 2012, Vol 32, Issue 4, p1079

ISSN

0172-8172

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s00296-011-1828-8