Xiehe Yixue Zazhi (Jan 2025)

Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Weakness in Limbs, Edema, and Dyspnea: A Rare Inflammatory Myopathy with Positive Aniti-mitochondrial Antibodies and Cardiac Involvement

  • LIANG Chunsu,
  • ZHANG Xuchang,
  • ZHANG Ning,
  • KANG Lin,
  • LIU Xiaohong,
  • YU Jiaqi,
  • LIU Yingxian,
  • QIAO Lin,
  • YANG Yanli,
  • ZHAO Xiaoyi,
  • ZHAO Ruijie,
  • NIU Na,
  • YAN Xuelian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12290/xhyxzz.2024-0078
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 248 – 255

Abstract

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This article presents a case study of a patient who visited the Geriatric Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to "palpitations, shortness of breath for more than 2 years, limb weakness for 6 months, edema, and nocturnal dyspnea for 2 months". The patient exhibited decreased muscle strength in the limbs and involvement of swallowing and respiratory muscles, alongside complications of heart failure and various arrhythmias which were predominantly atrial. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of multiple autoantibodies and notably anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with anti-mitochondrial antibody-associated inflammatory myopathy. Treatment involved a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, along with resistance exercises for muscle strength and rehabilitation training for lung function, resulting in significant improvement of clinical symptoms. The case underscores the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases in elderly patients, where careful consideration of clinical manifestations and subtle abnormal clinical data can lead to effective interventions.

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