Amyopathic dermatomyositis combined with peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

We provide the first report of amyopathic dermatomyositis combined with peripheral neuropathy. Our patient, a 49-year-old woman, initially experienced muscle weakness and tingling sensations in her legs, and nerve conduction study findings and the detection of antiganglioside antibodies indicated that she had autoimmune peripheral neuropathy. The unexpected presence of skin lesions, interstitial pneumonia and antibodies to melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 prompted an additional diagnosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis. No previous report has described amyopathic dermatomyositis with peripheral neuropathy, and the present case provides evidence for the once-controversial concept of neuromyositis.

Keywords: dermatology; peripheral nerve disease; rheumatology.