Characterization of patients with dermatomyositis in a university hospital in Colombia

Introduction: Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by the presence of skin lesions; it is considered a heterogeneous disease, due to its clinical presentation, course, and prognosis. In Colombia there are few records that describe the clinical characteristics of these patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Medical records of patients who consulted a university hospital in Colombia between January 2004 and December 2019 were reviewed. The records were obtained using databases from the dermatology, rheumatology, dermatopathology, and electrophysiology units, and CIE10 diagnostic codes. Results: Seventy patients with a dermatomyositis diagnosis were found, 63 (90%) fulfilled the Bohan and Peter diagnostic criteria and 7 (10%) had amyopathic dermatomyositis, with an average age of 43 years (SD ± 15.3). Forty-eight were women (68.5%). The most frequent clinical signs were Gottron's papules 80%, periorbital violaceous (heliotrope) erythema with edema 78.5% (n = 55) and poikiloderma 75.7% (n = 53). The most frequently found systemic manifestations were dysphagia (21.4%, n = 15), interstitial lung disease (11.4%, n = 8), and pulmonary hypertension (8.5%, n = 6). Cancer was documented in 8.5% (n = 6) of patients. Conclusion: We showed clinical information of patients with dermatomyositis in a referral hospital in Colombia. The data obtained is consistent with information from other case series worldwide.

Introducción: La dermatomiositis es una miopatía inflamatoria idiopática que se caracteriza por presentar lesiones en la piel; por su presentación clínica, su curso y su pronóstico, se la considera una enfermedad heterogénea. En Colombia existen pocos registros que describan las características clínicas de los pacientes afectados por esta enfermedad. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, se revisaron las historias clínicas de pacientes que consultaron a un hospital universitario en Colombia entre enero del 2004 y diciembre del 2019. Los registros se obtuvieron utilizando bases de datos de las unidades de dermatología, reumatología, dermatopatología, electrofisiología y códigos diagnósticos CIE10 asociados con dermatomiositis. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 70 pacientes con diagnóstico de dermatomiositis, 63 (90%) de los cuales cumplían criterios de clasificación de Bohan y Peter, en tanto que 7 (10%) presentaban dermatomiositis amiopática. El promedio de edad fue de 43 arios (DS ± 15,3); 48 fueron mujeres (68,5%); los signos clínicos más frecuentes fueron: pápulas de Gottron (80%, n = 56), eritema heliotropo (78,5%, n = 55) y poiquilodermia (75,7%, n = 53). Las manifestaciones sistêmicas más comúnmente encontradas fueron: disfagia (21,4%, n = 15), enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (11,4%, n = 8) e hipertensión pulmonar (8,5%, n = 6). Se documentó cáncer en el 8,5% (n = 6) de los pacientes. Conclusión: Se presenta información clínica de pacientes con dermatomiositis en un centro hospitalario de referencia en Colombia; los datos obtenidos concuerdan con la información de otros estudios de series de casos a escala mundial.

Myositis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Factors Related to Pulmonary Function Improvement: A Latin-American Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: ILD patients can be positive to highly specific autoantibodies of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Among them stand out myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies (MSA/MAA). There is limited knowledge about treatment response and prognosis of ILD patients positive to MSA/MAA (MSA/MAA-ILD). Our aim was to describe clinical, radiological and pulmonary function (PF) of MSA/MAA-ILD Latin-American patients and risk factors associated to PF at onset and long term follow up. METHODS: Multicentric retrospective study of MSA/MAA-ILD patients evaluated between 2016 and 2018 in 3 ILD clinics in Latin America. Clinical, functional and tomographic variables were described. Variables associated with poor baseline PF and associated with functional improvement (FI) were analyzed in a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: We included 211 patients, 77.4% female, mean age 57 years old. Most frequent MSA/MAA were Ro-52 and Jo-1. Poor baseline PF was associated to ILD as initial diagnosis and NSIP/OP HRCT pattern. 121 patients were included in the follow up PF analysis: 48.8% remained stable and 33% had a significant FI. In multivariate analysis, OP pattern on HRCT was associated with FI. Systemic symptoms from the beginning and the absence of sclerodactyly showed a trend to be associated with FI. CONCLUSIONS: Worse baseline PF could be related to the absence of extra-thoracic symptoms and "classic" antibodies in CTD (ANA), which causes delay in diagnosis and treatment. In contrast, FI could be related to the presence of extra-thoracic signs that allow timely diagnosis and therapy, and more acute and subacute forms of ILD, such as OP pattern.

Myositis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Factors Related to Pulmonary Function Improvement: A Latin-American Multicenter Cohort Study / Enfermedad pulmonar intersticial asociada con miositis: Características clínicas y factores relacionados con la mejoría de la función pulmonar. Estudio latinoamericano multicéntrico de cohorte

Background and objectives: ILD patients can be positive to highly specific autoantibodies of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Among them stand out myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies (MSA/MAA). There is limited knowledge about treatment response and prognosis of ILD patients positive to MSA/MAA (MSA/MAA-ILD). Our aim was to describe clinical, radiological and pulmonary function (PF) of MSA/MAA-ILD Latin-American patients and risk factors associated to PF at onset and long term follow up. Methods: Multicentric retrospective study of MSA/MAA-ILD patients evaluated between 2016 and 2018 in 3 ILD clinics in Latin America. Clinical, functional and tomographic variables were described. Variables associated with poor baseline PF and associated with functional improvement (FI) were analyzed in a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: We included 211 patients, 77.4% female, mean age 57 years old. Most frequent MSA/MAA were Ro-52 and Jo-1. Poor baseline PF was associated to ILD as initial diagnosis and NSIP/OP HRCT pattern. 121 patients were included in the follow up PF analysis: 48.8% remained stable and 33% had a significant FI. In multivariate analysis, OP pattern on HRCT was associated with FI. Systemic symptoms from the beginning and the absence of sclerodactyly showed a trend to be associated with FI. Conclusions: Worse baseline PF could be related to the absence of extra-thoracic symptoms and “classic” antibodies in CTD (ANA), which causes delay in diagnosis and treatment. In contrast, FI could be related to the presence of extra-thoracic signs that allow timely diagnosis and therapy, and more acute and subacute forms of ILD, such as OP pattern.(AU)

Antecedentes y objetivos: Los pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI) pueden presentar positividad para autoanticuerpos específicos de enfermedades autoinmunes, como los anticuerpos mioespecíficos (AME) o mioasociados (AMA). Existe escasa información disponible sobre pronóstico y respuesta al tratamiento de estos pacientes. Nuestro objetivo fue describir las características clínicas, radiológicas, funcionales y pronósticas de una cohorte latinoamericana de pacientes con EPI y AME/AMA. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico de una cohorte pacientes con EPI y AME/AMA, evaluados en tres centros latinoamericanos entre 2016 y 2018. Describimos variables clínicas, tomográficas y funcionales. Analizamos variables asociadas con valores funcionales bajos al inicio y mejoría funcional mediante regresión logística. Resultados: Incluimos 211 pacientes, 77,4% mujeres, con una media de edad de 57 años. Los anticuerpos más frecuentes fueron Ro-52 y Jo-1. Valores funcionales bajos al inicio se asociaron con la presencia de EPI desde el debut y con un patrón de neumonía intersticial no específica (NINE)/neumonía organizativa (NO) en la tomografía computarizada de alta resolución (TACAR). Se analizó la evolución funcional en 121 pacientes: 48% permanecieron estables y 33% presentaron mejoría. El patrón de NO en TACAR, se asoció significativamente con mejoría funcional, mientras que la presencia de EPI desde el debut y la ausencia de esclerodactilia mostraron una tendencia en el análisis multivariado. Conclusiones: Valores funcionales bajos al debut podrían asociarse con la ausencia de síntomas extratorácicos al inicio, por llevar a un diagnóstico y tratamiento tardíos. Por el contrario, la presencia de síntomas sistémicos al debut, junto con formas más agudas de EPI como NINE/NO podrían asociarse con mejoría funcional por permitir un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz.(AU)

Myositis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Factors Related to Pulmonary Function Improvement: A Latin-American Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: ILD patients can be positive to highly specific autoantibodies of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Among them stand out myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies (MSA/MAA). There is limited knowledge about treatment response and prognosis of ILD patients positive to MSA/MAA (MSA/MAA-ILD). Our aim was to describe clinical, radiological and pulmonary function (PF) of MSA/MAA-ILD Latin-American patients and risk factors associated to PF at onset and long term follow up. METHODS: Multicentric retrospective study of MSA/MAA-ILD patients evaluated between 2016 and 2018 in 3 ILD clinics in Latin America. Clinical, functional and tomographic variables were described. Variables associated with poor baseline PF and associated with functional improvement (FI) were analyzed in a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: We included 211 patients, 77.4% female, mean age 57 years old. Most frequent MSA/MAA were Ro-52 and Jo-1. Poor baseline PF was associated to ILD as initial diagnosis and NSIP/OP HRCT pattern. 121 patients were included in the follow up PF analysis: 48.8% remained stable and 33% had a significant FI. In multivariate analysis, OP pattern on HRCT was associated with FI. Systemic symptoms from the beginning and the absence of sclerodactyly showed a trend to be associated with FI. CONCLUSIONS: Worse baseline PF could be related to the absence of extra-thoracic symptoms and "classic" antibodies in CTD (ANA), which causes delay in diagnosis and treatment. In contrast, FI could be related to the presence of extra-thoracic signs that allow timely diagnosis and therapy, and more acute and subacute forms of ILD, such as OP pattern.

Autoanticuerpos en miopatías inflamatorias idiopáticas: enfoque en la práctica clínica / Autoantibodies in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: focus on clinical practice

Las miopatías inflamatorias idiopáticas (MII) conforman un grupo diverso de en-fermedades caracterizadas por lesiones musculares inmunomediadas, que pue-den estar acompañadas de manifestaciones extramusculares.La identificación de autoanticuerpos específicos de miositis (AEM) y asociados a miositis (AAM) se ha convertido en una herramienta relevante en el diagnóstico, clasificación y pronóstico en este grupo de enfermedades.Adquieren relevancia en el diagnóstico y determinación de pronóstico de la Enfer-medad Pulmonar Intersticial (EPI), en el diagnóstico diferencial entre subgrupos de MII, especialmente en entidades de comportamiento atípico como la Miopatía Necrotizante Inmuno Mediada (MNIM) y la Miositis por Cuerpos de Inclusión, y permiten el enfoque y seguimiento estricto en pacientes con autoanticuerpos asociados a cáncer. En el último tiempo se ha planteado su utilidad tanto en la determinación de actividad de la enfermedad como en predecir la respuesta al tratamiento inmu-nosupresor.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) comprise a heterogenous group of ill-nesses characterized by immune mediated muscular injuries that may be accom-panied by extra-muscular manifestations.The identification of myositis-specific autoantibodies MSAs and myositis-associ-ated autoantibodies (MAA) has become a relevant tool in the diagnose, classifica-tion, and prognosis in this group of illnesses.They become relevant in the diagnose and determination of a prognosis for Inter-stitial Lung Disease (ILD), in the differentiated diagnose among sub-groups of MII, especially in entities of an atypical behavior, such as Immune Mediated Necrotiz-ing Myopathy (IMNM) and Inclusion Body Myositis, and they enable a strict focus and follow-up on patients with cancer-associated autoantibodies. Lately, its usefulness has been stated both to determine disease activity and to forecast the response to the immunosuppressive treatment.

Polimiositis secundaria a tuberculosis en un niño de 11 años / Polymyositis secondary to tuberculosis in an 11-year-old boy

Resumen:La polimiositis es una de las miopatías inflamatorias idiopáticas. Tiene una incidencia mundial estimada en 4 casos por cada millón de habitantes al año. Es considerada un diagnóstico de exclusión y se ha establecido una asociación con la infección por micobacterias. Se reporta el caso de un niño de 11 años de edad con polimiositis secundaria a tuberculosis. La polimiositis tuvo una adecuada respuesta a los corticosteroides, pero estos no fueron necesarios después del diagnóstico de una infección pulmonar por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. El tratamiento antifímico, sin la terapia con esteroides, permitió una resolución de ambas patologías y la evolución favorable del paciente.

Abstract:Polymyositis is one of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. It has an estimated worldwide incidence of 4 cases per million population per year. It is considered an exclusion diagnosis and a relationship with mycobacterial infection has been established. This article reports the case of an 11-year-old boy with polymyositis secondary to tuberculosis. Polymyositis had an adequate response to corticosteroids, but these were not needed after the diagnosis of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis lung infection. Anti-tuberculosis treatment without steroid therapy, allowed a resolution of both conditions and the favorable outcome of the patient.

Electrocardiographic changes in dermatomyositis and polymyositis.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac involvement is frequent in inflammatory myopathies. Electrocardiogram (ECG) may show evidence of this involvement and its changes should be well-known and described. OBJECTIVES: Due to the lack of studies in the literature, we conducted an analysis of the ECG findings in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM), comparing them with a control group. METHODS: This cross-sectional study compared the ECG of 86 individuals with no rheumatic disorders (controls) with 112 patients (78 DM and 34 PM), during 2010-2013. The ECG findings between DM and PM were also compared. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics, comorbidities and ECG abnormalities were similar between controls and patients (p>0.05), except for a higher frequency of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients (10.7% vs. 1.2%, p=0.008). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical and laboratory manifestations, were also similar between the groups PM and DM, except for the presence of cutaneous lesions only in DM. One-third of the patients had ECG abnormalities, which were more prevalent in PM than DM (50% vs. 24.4%, p=0.008). LVH, left atrial enlargement, rhythm and conduction abnormalities were more frequent in PM than DM (p<0.05 for all), especially the left anterior fascicular block. CONCLUSIONS: We showed distinct ECG changes between DM and PM and a higher frequency of LVH in patients compared to controls. Investigation of cardiac involvement should be considered even in asymptomatic patients, especially PM. Further studies are necessary in order to determine the correlation of ECG findings with other complementary tests, clinical manifestations, disease activity and progression to other cardiac diseases.

Electrocardiographic changes in dermatomyositis and polymyositis / Alterações eletrocardiográficas em dermatomiosite e polimiosite

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cardiac involvement is frequent in inflammatory myopathies. Electrocardiogram (ECG) may show evidence of this involvement and its changes should be well-known and described. Objectives: Due to the lack of studies in the literature, we conducted an analysis of the ECG findings in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM), comparing them with a control group. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared the ECG of 86 individuals with no rheumatic disorders (controls) with 112 patients (78 DM and 34 PM), during 2010 to 2013. The ECG findings between DM and PM were also compared. Results: Demographic characteristics, comorbidities and ECG abnormalities were similar between controls and patients (p > 0.05), except for a higher frequency of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients (10.7% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.008). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical and laboratory manifestations, were also similar between the groups PM and DM, except for the presence of cutaneous lesions only in DM. One third of the patients had ECG abnormalities, which were more prevalent in PM than DM (50% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.008). LVH, left atrial enlargement, rhythm and conduction abnormalities were more frequent in PM than DM (p < 0.05 for all), especially the left anterior fascicular block. Conclusions: We showed distinct ECG changes between DM and PM and a higher frequency of LVH in patients compared to controls. Investigation of cardiac involvement should be considered even in asymptomatic patients, especially PM. Further studies are necessary in order to determine the correlation of ECG findings with other complementary tests, clinical manifestations, disease activity and progression to other cardiac diseases.

RESUMO Introdução: Acometimento cardíaco nas miopatias inflamatórias é frequente. Eletrocardiograma (ECG) pode mostrar indícios desse acometimento e suas alterações devem ser bem conhecidas e descritas. Objetivos: Devido à escassez de trabalhos na literatura, analisamos as alterações de ECG em pacientes com dermatomiosite (DM) e polimiosite (PM) e as comparamos com um grupo controle. Métodos: Este estudo transversal comparou ECGs de 86 indivíduos sem doenças reumatológicas (controles) com 112 pacientes (78 DM e 34 PM), de 2010 a 2013. Também comparamos os ECGs entre DM e PM. Resultados: Características demográficas, comorbidades e alterações de ECG foram semelhantes entre controles e pacientes (p > 0,05), exceto pela maior frequência de sobrecarga de ventrículo esquerdo (SVE) nos pacientes (10,7% vs. 1,2%; p = 0,008). Características demográficas, comorbidades, manifestações clínicas e laboratoriais também foram semelhantes entre os grupos PM e DM, exceto por lesões cutâneas apenas em pacientes com DM. Um terço dos pacientes apresentou alterações de ECG, que foram mais prevalentes em PM do que em DM (50% vs. 24,4%, p = 0,008). Sobrecarga de câmaras esquerdas (SCE), distúrbios do ritmo e da condução foram mais encontrados em PM do que em DM (p < 0,05 para todos), sobretudo o bloqueio divisional do ramo anterossuperior. Conclusões: Encontramos alterações distintas de ECG entre PM e DM e frequência aumentada de SVE em pacientes quando comparados com controles. Investigação do acometimento cardíaco nessas doenças deve ser considerada mesmo em pacientes assintomáticos, especialmente em se tratando de PM. Mais estudos são necessários para correlacionar os achados de ECG com outros exames complementares, manifestações clínicas, atividade das miopatias e evolução para outras doenças cardíacas.

Miopatias inflamatórias idiopáticas: relato de caso / The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As miopatias inflamatórias idiopáticas, também conhecidas como síndrome de miosite, são da família de doenças sistêmicas adquiridas do tecido conjuntivo, caracterizadas por efeitos clínicos e patológicos de inflamação muscular crônica de causa desconhecida. As formas mais comuns são a polimiosite e a dermatomiosite, que tem seu diagnóstico com base em uma combinação de achados clínicos, laboratoriais e histopatológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi abordar a característica clínica da dermatopolimiosite e demonstrar a evolução e o tratamento da doença. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 66 anos, apresentando quadro de dor no abdômen e nos membros superiores e inferiores, associada com diminuição da força muscular. Presença de dispnéia acompanhada de tosse produtiva. Foi submetida à avaliação reumatológica, levantando-se a hipótese de dermatopolimiosite, concluindo-se o diagnóstico após avaliação clinica e laboratorial. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento da doença ocorreu de acordo com o padrão evolutivo que a paciente se encontrava.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The idiophatic inflammatory myopathies - or syndrome myositis - are a group of acquired systemic diseases of connective tissue with characteristic of clinical and pathological effect of chronic inflammatory of muscle whose your pathogenesis is strange. The types habitual are the polymyositis and the dermatomyositis. For diagnosis is necessary a arrangement of clinical, laboratory and histopathologic founds. In this article we approach the characteristics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, aiming to demonstrate the evolution and treatment of disease. CASE REPORT: Female patient, 66 years, presenting chart of pain in abdomen and lower and upper members, associated with diminution of the muscular force. Presence of dyspnea accompanied of productive cough. It was submitted to Rheumatologic clinical evaluation being raised the hypothesis of dermatopolymyositis, concluding the diagnosis after evaluation is in clinical practice and laboratory. CONCLUSION: The handling of the illness occurs according to the developing standard that the patient is found.