Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
August 2015 Vol. 4(8), pp. 347-350
Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Neuromyositis: Clinical and Electrophysiological study of 8 cases

Halil Onder*, F.GökcemYıldız and Çagrı Mesut Temucin

Hacettepe University Hospital, Department of Neurology,Sıhhıye, Ankara, Turkey

*Corresponding Author Email: halilnder@yahoo.com; Telephone: +3123051807

Accepted 06 August, 2015

Abstract

Concomitant involvement of peripheral nerve system in dermatomyositis and polymyositis defined as ‘Neuromyositis’ is a very rarely reported entity. Clinical presentations and pathogenesis of this entity is not well known. In addition, definite diagnostic criterias as well as even occurrence of this entity is still an argument subject for some authors. Here, via our 8 cases diagnosed both with dermatomyositis/polymyositis and neuropathic involvement, the existence of ‘Neuromyositis’ will be interrogated.  We scanned the electrophysiological (EP) reports of dermatomyositis or polimyositis patients studied between 2000-2014 also for the key word ‘neuropathy’. Clinical evaluation of these patients were performed retrospectively using hospital computer data system and file notes. EP reports of 8 patients with myopathy showed findings of neuropathic involvement (5 male). Two patients were diagnosed with dermatomyositis and 6 were diagnosed with polimyositis. All EP reports revealed axonal neuropathic involvement. We determined the coincidental presence of diseases like diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erithematosus, collagen tissue diseases or history of drug usages (cycplatin, colchicum, etoposide) that could be responsible for neuropathy in 7 of them. Except one patient diagnosed with dermatomyositis and diabetes mellitus, not any of them had neuropathy related symptoms (sensorial deficit, distal paresis). For our opinion, in cooccurence of neuropathy and myopathy seconder neuropathy causes must be excluded. In EP studies of myopathic patients, axonal neuropathy findings can suggest the entity of ‘Neuromyositis’. Nevertheless, to investigate the ‘clear picture’ of neuromyositislarger case studies involving concomitant nerve and muscle biopsies must be done.

Keywords: Neuromyositis, Electrophysiological, dermatomyositis, polymyositis