Long-lasting myopathy as a major clinical feature of sarcoidosis in a child: case report with a 7-year follow-up

Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2001 Jun;18(2):196-200.

Abstract

Muscle involvement in sarcoidosis is rarely described as the predominant feature and muscular symptoms are seldom observed. In recent pediatric series, sarcoid myopathy was no longer considered a typical aspect of sarcoidosis. The authors report a case of sarcoidosis in a patient presenting predominant muscular symptoms since childhood, due to biopsy-proven muscle localization. A seven-year follow-up has demonstrated a slow improvement of symptoms with persistency of electromyography (EMG) and biochemical abnormalities. Mild and transient pulmonary involvement was demonstrated only after diagnosis. Clinical improvement associated with a decrease in serum muscular enzyme levels with no changes in EMG was observed after a six-month course of systemic corticosteroid therapy. In childhood, skeletal muscle symptoms may be the presenting feature of sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electromyography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscular Diseases / etiology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones