Juvenile dermatomyositis with a rare and remarkable complication: sinus bradycardia
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Published on: February 11, 2022
Neslihan Edeer Karaca1, Guzide Aksu, Betul Sozeri Yeniay
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Medical School, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Juvenile dermatomyositis can affect the heart in children, causing bradycardia. This case shows that treating the underlying JDM can resolve cardiac symptoms without specific heart medications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an autoimmune disease causing muscle weakness and skin rash.
- Cardiac involvement is common in adult dermatomyositis but rare in JDM.
- Cardiac complications are a significant cause of mortality in JDM.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old boy presented with bradycardia.
- The bradycardia was attributed to sinus node involvement secondary to JDM.
- No specific cardiac medications were administered for the bradycardia.
Findings:
- The patient's bradycardia resolved with JDM treatment.
- This suggests a direct link between JDM activity and cardiac sinus node dysfunction.
- Successful management of JDM led to the recovery of heart function.
Implications:
- Cardiac involvement in JDM, though rare, should be considered.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of JDM may prevent or reverse cardiac complications.
- This case highlights the importance of monitoring cardiac function in pediatric patients with JDM.
Abstract:
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is characterized by proximal muscle weakness, vasculopathy of the skin and muscles, and typical skin rash. Approximately, 70% of adult patients with dermatomyositis have evidence of cardiac damage. However, cardiac involvement, one of the important causes of death, has been reported rarely in children with JDM. Here, we describe an 11-year-old boy who presented with bradycardia as a result of sinus node involvement due to JDM and recovered by the treatment of JDM without any specific drug for bradycardia.
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