A case of polymyositis associated with scrub typhus.
- Author:
Young Seok WOO
1
;
Chae Ryung JANG
;
Sung Su JEONG
;
Dong Ju KEUM
;
Kwang Yul JANG
;
Choon Hee SON
;
Sung Won LEE
;
Won Tae CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Pusan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Polymyositis;
Scrub typhus
- MeSH:
Adult;
Biopsy;
Female;
Humans;
Macrophages;
Muscle Weakness;
Polymyositis*;
Scrub Typhus*
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2001;61(3):298-301
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We report the case of a 32-year-old female who developed polymyositis associated with scrub typhus. She exhibited the eschar with high titer of anti-Rickettsia(R)-tsutsugamushi antibody, severe muscle weakness, markedly elevated serum levels of muscle enzymes, EMG changes, and infiltration of macrophages in a muscle biopsy specimen. Initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy resulted in complete healing of scrub typhus and disappearance of symptoms and signs of polymyositis within 1 month after high dose steroid therapy. We suggest that scrub typhus also be included within the causes of idiopathic inflammatory polymyositis.
