TY - JOUR
T1 - Spontaneous recovery of dermatomyositis and unspecified myositis in three adult patients
AU - Van de Vlekkert, J.
AU - Hoogendijk, J. E.
AU - Frijns, C. J. M.
AU - de Visser, M.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis and unspecified myositis are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in which prednisone is usually started as soon as the diagnosis has been established. Therefore, little is known about the natural history of these diseases and spontaneous recovery may escape attention. Here, we present three patients who achieved remission without administration of immunosuppressants. In these three patients, treatment was not started because of spontaneously improving symptoms and signs during the diagnostic process. After 3-5 years, all patients are still free of muscle weakness. These case reports demonstrate that spontaneous long lasting remission can occur in a small proportion of patients with subacute onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. In some patients, immunosuppressive treatment with the risk of serious side effects can perhaps be omitted. However, close and frequent monitoring is required in these instances
AB - Dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis and unspecified myositis are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in which prednisone is usually started as soon as the diagnosis has been established. Therefore, little is known about the natural history of these diseases and spontaneous recovery may escape attention. Here, we present three patients who achieved remission without administration of immunosuppressants. In these three patients, treatment was not started because of spontaneously improving symptoms and signs during the diagnostic process. After 3-5 years, all patients are still free of muscle weakness. These case reports demonstrate that spontaneous long lasting remission can occur in a small proportion of patients with subacute onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. In some patients, immunosuppressive treatment with the risk of serious side effects can perhaps be omitted. However, close and frequent monitoring is required in these instances
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2007.134676
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2007.134676
M3 - Article
C2 - 18487558
SN - 0022-3050
VL - 79
SP - 729
EP - 730
JO - Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
JF - Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
IS - 6
ER -