The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association  1999;6(3):287-287

Fatal Pneumomediastinum and Subcutaneous Emphysema in a Patient with Dermatomyositis.

Jong Hyun PARK 1 ; Sung Hwan PARK ; Paek Sun KIM ; Joon Wook LEE ; Wan Hee YOO ; Yeong Shil JOO ; Shin Seok LEE ; Wan Uk KIM ; Jun Ki MIN ; Yeon Sik HONG ; Sang Heon LEE ; Chul Soo CHO ; Ho Youn KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Dermatomyositis; Pneumomediastinum; Pulmonary function test

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Dermatomyositis is a clinical entity characterized by a distinctive cutaneous rash and inflammatory myopathy. In this disorder, the pneumomediastinum is quite a rare complication and is assumed to result from air leakage due to vasculitis, lung fibrosis or rarely after bronchoscopic lung biopsy and pulmonary function test. We describe patient with dermatomyositis who developed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and massive subcutaneous emphysema after pulmonary function test. She died due to respiratory failure. We think that careful observation is required in performing PFT in dermatomyositis patients with presumed interstitial lung diseases.