Increased Cardiac Troponin T May Be a Marker of Worsening Skeletal Myopathy in Inclusion Body Myositis: A Case Report

Abstract

Abstract. Previous studies have reported elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with inclusion body myositis due to skeletal myopathy. Although the trends of cTnT have been reported in some cases, the onset of elevation has barely been reported. In this case, elevated cTnT in a patient diagnosed with inclusion body myositis is discussed. The routine laboratory tests of a 68-year-old male patient showed a positive cTnT test. Eight months later, he developed symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Subsequently, after a series of examinations, the patient was diagnosed with inclusion body myositis. Despite a transient decrease in cTnT levels following intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, the levels rapidly rebounded and continued to rise, suggesting continued progression of skeletal muscle damage in inclusion body myositis. It was concluded that the elevated cTnT was due to re-expression of cTnT in the damaged skeletal muscles of inclusion body myositis. This suggests that dynamic monitoring of cTnT levels in inclusion body myositis patients may predict the progression of myositis and promote timely treatment.