Home Current Issue Previous Issues For Authors Journal Info
Skip Navigation LinksHome > June 2007 - Volume 8 - Issue 4 > Inflammatory Cells Invading Muscle Fibers in Myotonic Dystro...
Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease:
June 2007 - Volume 8 - Issue 4 - pp 212-216
doi: 10.1097/CND.0b013e3181368f19
Short Report

Inflammatory Cells Invading Muscle Fibers in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2

Kawai, Makoto MD; Gundogdu, Betul MD; Kwan, Justin MD; Mosier, Dennis R MD, PhD

Collapse Box

Abstract

We report a case of genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 2 with findings of significant inflammation in muscle. The initial presentation consisted of cramps and slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness, initially without distinguishing clinical features. Muscle biopsy showed invasion of both necrotic and nonnecrotic muscle fibers by CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression. Empiric immunosuppressive therapy did not provide clinical benefit. We note that several hereditary muscle disorders exhibit evidence of inflammation near necrotic fibers, believed to represent a secondary immune response. However, invasion of nonnecrotic fibers by inflammatory cells, a finding regarded as typical of primary inflammatory myopathies, has not been described in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 2. This case documents a significant inflammatory response in muscle of a patient with myotonic dystrophy type 2, which could lead to diagnostic confusion with the primary inflammatory myopathies.

© 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

You currently do not have access to this article.

You may need to:

Note: If your society membership provides for full-access to this article, you may need to login on your society’s web site first.

Article Tools

You currently do not have access to this article.

You may need to:

Note: If your society membership provides for full-access to this article, you may need to login on your society’s web site first.

Search for Similar Articles
You may search for similar articles that contain these same keywords or you may modify the keyword list to augment your search.