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Spontaneous pneumomediastinum secondary to refractory dermatomyositis successfully treated with rituximab

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Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum has been described in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (Korkmaz et al., Rheumatology 40:476–478, 2001; Maruoka et al., Mod Rheumatol 16:55–57, 2006; Kono et al., Ann Rheum Dis 59:372–376, 2000; Neves et al., Clin Rheumatol 26:105–107, 2007). Literature reviews suggest that this complication has a mortality of between 27% and 41% ( Kono et al., Ann Rheum Dis 59:372–376, 2000; Neves et al., Clin Rheumatol 26:105–107, 2007; Goff et al., Arthritis Rheum 61:108–118, 2009). This is the first report of rituximab being used successfully as part of the treatment for DM complicated by pneumomediastinum.

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References

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Acknowledgements

Professor D Isenberg for advice on management

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Correspondence to Martin A. Lee.

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Lee, M.A., Hutchinson, D.G. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum secondary to refractory dermatomyositis successfully treated with rituximab. Clin Rheumatol 29, 945–946 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1399-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1399-1

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