Abstract
A case of dermatomyositis associated with multiple skin ulcers and interstitial pneumonia is reported. The patient was a 53-year-old woman who presented with erythema on her face, back, and dorsa of both hands in April of 1999. In December of 2000, she developed dyspnea and generalized fatigue without muscle manifestations. In March of 2001, skin ulcers with large pockets appeared on the patient’s elbows, shoulders, and bilateral knees. Laboratory findings revealed no paticular abnormality except an elevated serum KL-6 level. Histological findings of the skin taken from the left cheek revealed liquefaction necrosis of basal cells, and edema in the upper dermis. Oral prednisolone therapy, hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, fibroblastic growth factor (Fibrast Spray®), and surgery were employed, and the skin ulcers improved. Similar cases of dermatomyositis associated with skin ulcers are discussed. Adult dermatomyositis associated with skin ulcers is more common in women, and then more often develop interstitial pneumonia and internal malignancy than does cases of dermatomyositis without skin ulcers. The rate of complication by interstitial pneumonia is high, but the rate of complication by malignant tumor is low.
