Download PDF
Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2010; 08(04): 433-435
DOI: 10.3233/JPN-2010-0421
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Anasarca as the presenting feature of juvenile dermatomyositis

Authors

  • Reem Abdwani

    a   Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman

  • Roshan Koul

    a   Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman

  • Faisal Al Azri

    b   Department of Radiology & Molecular Imaging, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman

  • Amna AL-Futaisi

    a   Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

29 June 2009

27 July 2009

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

Also available at
 PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

We report a 10-year-old girl with juvenile dermatomyositis who presented with generalized anasarca, an unusual initial manifestation, rarely reported. Anasarca has been linked with severity of the disease activity in some reports. The patient was treated with pulse methylprednisolone, methotrexate and intravenous immunoglobulin. Disease activity was completely controlled within 3 months of therapy. It is crucial for pediatricians to recognize generalized edema as a presenting feature of juvenile dermatomyositis in the absence of the other clinical and laboratory features of other common causes of anasarca. We advocate early diagnosis and prompt aggressive treatment to decrease morbidity.

Keywords

Juvenile dermatomyositis - anasarca - edema