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Published on: December 5, 2019
Diabetic muscle infarction in a patient admitted to the cardiac ward
Chao-Ping Yu1, Tian-Hu Liu, Bin Wang
1Department of Cardiology, Pi County People's Hospital, China.
Insights
Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI) is a rare diabetes complication. This case highlights DMI
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Radiology
Background:
- Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI) is a rare complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus.
- This report details the first case of DMI managed by cardiologists.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old patient with a 2-year history of diabetes and hypertension presented with left thigh pain and bilateral lower extremity edema.
- Initial clinical presentation was atypical and not immediately suggestive of DMI.
Findings:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed DMI in the left thigh.
- The patient's condition improved with anticoagulants, analgesics, and rest.
Implications:
- DMI diagnosis can be challenging for non-endocrinologists due to its rarity and atypical initial symptoms.
- Increased awareness among physicians is crucial for timely diagnosis and management of DMI.
Abstract:
Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI) is a rare complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus. This is the first case of DMI reported by cardiologists. A 49-year-old patient with a history of diabetes and hypertension for only two years was admitted to the cardiac ward due to pain in the left thigh with pitting edema in both lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging finally confirmed the presence of DMI in the left thigh, which was improved by treatment with anticoagulants, analgesics and rest. However, the typical clinical symptoms of DMI were unrecognizable at the start of treatment, which may be attributed to a lack of awareness of this rare condition among non-endocrinologist physicians.
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