A rare form of dermatomyositis associated with muscle weakness and normal creatine kinase level

Abstract

We present a case study of a 61-year-old Vietnamese woman who presents with features of dermatomyositis (DM), including Gottron’s papules, heliotrope rash, cutaneous ulcers, generalised weakness and pain, and weight loss with normal levels of creatine kinase (CK). She demonstrated features of interstitial lung disease and subsequently tested positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 and anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 activating enzyme antibodies, which belong to a DM subtype known as clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis and do not present with raised CK. She received standard treatment for DM, including oral prednisolone, hydroxychloroquine, mycopheonlate and topical betamethasone. The treatment successfully reversed skin changes; however, the patient remained generally weak and unable to carry out her activities of daily living.

Background

There is currently limited evidence on the mode of presentation, serological investigation and optimal treatment of newly described forms of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), which is associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). This case study outlines the presentation, diagnosis and subsequent management of a patient admitted under the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Case presentation

A 61-year-old Vietnamese woman presented in February 2019 with a 4-month history of a violaceous, erythematous rash with scaling on her arms, thighs, scalp and face, weight loss from 54 kg down to 38 kg, and associated arthralgias and weakness resulting in falls and need for a walker to mobilise. The patient was prescribed amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (875 mg/125 mg) by her general practitioner 3 weeks prior to presentation for skin infections due to persistent scratching. There was no history of any fevers, rigours, travel or sick contacts. There was a vague history of exertional dyspnoea but no chest pains, palpitations or other symptoms suggestive of cardiac failure.

Her medical history was significant for a 16-year history of Graves disease (requiring a total thyroidectomy in 2004), diverticulosis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia with chronic back pain and depression. There was no known history of malignancy. Her medications on admission included amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (875 mg/125 mg), thyroxine 100 µg daily, amitriptyline 35 mg at night, paracetamol with codeine (500 mg/30 mg) one tablet three times a day as needed and fenofibrate 145 mg/day (patient self-commenced 1 week prior to admission following it being prescribed 1 year ago but never commenced). There was no known statin use. She did not smoke, drank minimal alcohol, lived with her two daughters, and prior to onset of her illness was independent with all activities and instrumental activities of daily living.

On examination, all her vital observations were normal. She appeared severely malnourished and weighed 38 kg. She had a diffuse pruritic rash over her upper limbs and lower limbs, with ulcers and Gottron’s papules over her hands, which were painful to touch (figure 1). There were ragged cuticles and proximal nail fold erythema, but no sclerodactyly. There was a heliotrope rash with periorbital swelling in addition to a diffuse erythematous rash with violaceous patches with overlying scale and hyperpigmentation. There was diffuse tenderness over most of her joints but no joint effusions. She had generalised weakness in all limbs with significant upper and lower limb muscle wasting and normal tone and reflexes. Bi-basal fine crackles were heard on lung auscultation but heart sounds were dual without murmurs. The abdominal examination was normal.

Figure 1.

Dermatological changes seen in this patient’s hands and legs (including pruritic rash, ulcers and Gottron’s papules over hands).

Investigations

Her full blood count and biochemistry, including serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, were normal. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated at 84 mm/hour (<20 mm/hour) and C-reactive protein mildly elevated at 22 mg/L (<5 mg/L). Serum creatine kinase (CK) was normal. C3 was decreased at 0.84 g/L (0.9–1.8 g/L) but C4 was normal at 0.19 g/L (0.1–0.4 g/L). Serum electrophoresis showed an IgG of 25 g/L (6.0–16.0 g/L), IgA of 5.1 g/L (0.8–3.0 g/L) and IgM of 1.6 g/L (0.4–2.5 g/L). Tests for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) (performed with 1:40 HEp-2 cell dilution), Extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were negative. Urinary protein/creatinine and albumin/creatinine ratios were within the normal range. Thyroid function tests initially showed a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 0.5 mU/L (0.3–4.5 mU/L) and fT4 of 24 pmol/L (7.0–17 pmol/L), but these normalised 2 months after her thyroxine dose was reduced to 75 mcg daily.

Skin biopsies (with immunofluorescence testing) of the rashes over her thigh, chest and hand were consistent with mild lichenoid dermatitis. Differentials included dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus.

An MRI scan of her muscles showed patchy multifocal myositis involving several muscle groups, predominantly the right gluteus medius, right quadratus internus, right adductor muscles and right iliac psoas (figure 2). A high-resolution CT chest (HRCT) scan showed bilateral peribronchovascular and peripheral areas of ground-glass opacification with small areas of subpleural reticulation and parenchymal bands, all suggestive of ILD (figure 3). Respiratory function tests (RFTs) showed decreased diffusing lung capacity of 43% predicted value (pred.) and residual volume of 67% pred. (1.06 L), with total lung capacity of 86% pred. (2.97 L), forced expiratory ventilation in 1 s (FEV₁) of 80% of pred. (1.36 L), forced vital capacity (FVC) of 85% pred. (1.75 L) and FEV₁/FVC ratio of 78%. Echocardiogram showed normal right ventricular systolic pressure with left ventricular ejection fraction of 50%–55% and no valvular abnormalities.

Figure 2.

Areas of myositis observed on soft tissue MRI of lower limbs.

Figure 3.

Ground-glass changes at bases of lungs on patient’s high-resolution CT chest.

A muscle biopsy was considered but not performed due to the anticipated lack of further diagnostic utility given myositis on MRI, suggestive skin biopsy findings, ILD on HRCT and RFTs, clinical signs for DM and subsequent positivity for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) and anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 activating enzyme (SAE1) antibodies.

In screening for occult malignancies, the only significant finding on CT scans of her chest, abdomen and pelvis and transvaginal ultrasound was a short segment of circumferential thickening within the caecum and proximal ascending colon. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy showed no malignancy.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for the skin abnormalities included Sweet’s syndrome, drug-related eruption, cutaneous systemic lupus erythematosus and undifferentiated connective tissue disease.

At day 15 of admission, results of an extended spectrum of serological tests were received, which disclosed the presence of anti-MDA5 and anti-SAE1 antibodies.

Treatment

Based on a provisional diagnosis of DM, the patient was commenced on prednisolone 40 mg/day (1 mg/kg) and topical betamethasone 0.05% two times per day. Her inflammatory markers remain elevated and because of recurrent skin ulcers, mycophenolate (MMF) 500 mg/day was commenced. Generalised musculoskeletal pain was treated with controlled release oxycodone and naloxone 5 mg/2.5 mg two times per day, paracetamol 1 g three times per day and oxycodone 2.5–5 mg every 4 hours as needed. Fenofibrate had been stopped immediately on presentation. At day 21 of admission, she was discharged with dermatology, rheumatology and respiratory clinic follow-up.

On second presentation 1 month later, the patient had deteriorated further with ongoing weight loss, increasing frequency of falls, rising inflammatory markers and worsening of pain associated to cutaneous ulcers and back pain. She was treated with intravenous and oral antibiotics (flucloxacillin). Subsequently, her MMF dose was increased to 750 mg two times per day, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200 mg/day was commenced and her prednisolone was weaned down to 20 mg/day. Control of her pain required titration of tapentadol to 100 mg two times per day and duloxetine 60 mg/day. She was discharged after 11 days with community follow-up by the palliative care service to manage persisting pain.

Outcome and follow-up

The patient’s prognosis and level of functioning remain poor due to ongoing weakness, wasting and pain, which have proven refractory to current immunosuppressive treatment, despite some improvement in her skin disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) had been considered; however, the patient declined. Other treatment options such as rituximab and cyclophosphamide were not considered appropriate given her rapid deterioration, stable ILD and the development of infectious complications, including osteomyelitis in her right elbow, left distal third metacarpal and base of proximal phalanx of left middle finger related to infected skin ulcers.

Discussion

Anti-MDA5 and anti-SAE1 antibodies associated with DM have only been identified relatively recently.^{1 2} Without appropriate DM-specific antibody screening, it is easy to overlook the correct diagnosis in cases that do not demonstrate elevated CK levels.

In 2005, Sato et al identified a 140 kDa protein detected in Japanese patients with DM and CADM.¹ This specific protein was found to be associated with CADM and RPILD and was named anti-MDA5 antibody due to its reactivity against the MDA5 protein expressed in cells transfected with full-length MDA5 complementary DNA.^{1 2} In addition, the MDA5 protein acts as an RNA sensor with antiviral activity against picornaviruses, such as coxsackievirus.^3–5 Fiorentino et al subsequently recognised that autoimmunity to MDA5 was linked to cutaneous ulcers and RPILD, lending credence to the theory that MDA5 antibody associated DM is an autoimmune response to viruses.^{2 3 6}

Between 4.7% and 13.1% of cases of DM and 10.0% to 8.8% of cases of CADM may be associated with the anti-MDA5 antibody.⁷ Significant racial and regional differences in the clinical manifestations of DM associated with anti-MDA5 antibodies may be attributed to genetic differences such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 gene polymorphisms.⁸ For instance, anti-MDA5 antibody positivity in Japan is seen in 80% of cases of CADM, 90% of cases of ILD and 70% of cases of RPILD, and is associated with a mortality rate of 30%–50%.⁸ In contrast, in East Asia, while the prevalence of RPILD and the mortality rate for anti-MDA5 antibody associated DM are similar to that seen in Japan, the antibody is seen in less than 40% of cases of CADM.⁸ In North America, the antibody prevalence in cases of CADM is 50%, and in cases of RPILD only 20%.⁸

In 2007, the anti-SAE1 antibody was discovered by Betteridge et al,⁹ this being a myosin-specific antibody, which only occurs in 1.5%–8.0% of cases of DM.¹⁰ SAE1 is a protein involved in post-translational modification of protein kinases and transcription factors, which may have a role in the development of inflammatory diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis, which is commonly associated with DM.^{9 11–13} This antibody has a variable frequency globally, being detected in 3% of Chinese cases of DM, 1.8% of Japanese patients, 8% of British Caucasian patients and 6.7% of Greek and Italian patients.^14–18 It has a strong association with HLA-DQB1*03, HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DQA1*03 haplotypes.¹⁶

This case study highlights unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by atypical presentations of DM. Over 90% of DM cases present with myopathic disease with symmetrical proximal muscle weakness and raised CK.^{19 20} In contrast, MDA5 antibody associated DM presents with the CADM phenotype in 80% of cases where muscle weakness and elevated CK levels are not seen.²¹ Our patient uniquely did not have raised CK but was diffusely weak, and otherwise had stereotypical skin features of DM. Anti-MDA5 antibodies are also associated with skin features (70% of cases), including distinct punched out cutaneous ulcers, Gottron’s papules (53.5%), Gottron’s sign (69.6%), RPILD (20%–90%), arthritis (31.2%), alopecia (34%) and heliotrope rash.^{2 21} The disease commonly causes death within the first 6 months of diagnosis, due to respiratory failure from RPILD.^{2 21 22} Only one case study with anti-MDA5 antibody positivity had concurrent cardiomyopathy, although DM is commonly associated with cardiac complications such as myocarditis, ischaemia, arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies.^23–25

Anti-SAE1-antibodies are also associated with CADM and skin features (80% of cases) with Gottron’s papules (64%), Gottron’s sign (64%), heliotrope rash (82%) and a distinct diffuse pruritic erythema, which is more common in Asians (50% of cases) than Caucasians (7.3%).^{9 14 26} Anti-SAE1 antibodies are also associated with dysphagia (78%), higher rates of malignancy compared with other forms of DM (18.7% to 57% vs 9.4%) and less severe forms of ILD.9 15 26 27 There are no known reports of cardiomyopathy associated with anti-SAE1 antibodies.

In our patient, the diagnosis of DM was strongly suspected on the basis of clinical features, including Gottron’s papules, skin rashes, cutaneous ulcers and weakness. However, similar to many other rheumatological conditions, the presence of specific antibodies can engender specific clinical features, which guide treatment options. However, only 50%–70% of cases of DM and CADM have been shown on past studies to have identifiable myositis-specific antibodies, including anti-MDA5 and anti-SAE1 antibodies, resulting in many seronegative cases.^{21 28 29} In our patient, anti-MDA5 and anti-SAE1 antibodies were only detected at a later stage of illness, due to logistical delays in laboratory testing (including batch collection and the myositis blot testing itself).

The treatment of DM associated with anti-MDA5 and anti-SAE1 antibodies is similar to that of other variants of DM, with systemic corticosteroids being first line agents, and other drugs being used according to response to steroids and the predominance of cutaneous, respiratory or muscle symptoms. Steroids improve muscle function (with 25% of patients regaining full strength) but do not improve survival.^{30 31} Cutaneous features of DM are typically treated with topical steroids, usually with good efficacy.³² MMF is useful in refractory disease, as exemplified by our patient, as well as in patients with ILD or significant skin disease, with around 83% improvement in skin features, combined with decrease in CK levels (when elevated) and improved muscle strength after 22 months.^33–36 MMF also acts as a steroid-sparing agent, allowing average maintenance dose of prednisone being weaned from 13.7 to 8.5 mg/day.³⁴ Adjunctive treatment with HCQ has no effect on muscle disease and is only effective for skin disease, with a 75% response rate.^37–40 Because of its expense and difficulty in sourcing, IVIG is reserved for DM associated with life-threatening weakness or severe dysphagia, although it may have some effect on skin disease.^41–46 Unfortunately, in our patient, only her skin disease partially responded to multiple medications. Rituximab has been utilised in refractory and progressive ILD related to anti-MDA5 antibody positive DM.⁴⁷ This was not considered in our case given the stability of the ILD and development of infectious complications, including osteomyelitis.

Patient’s perspective.

I was very surprised to be diagnosed with such a rare condition. I had so many tests and did not expect to have so many specialist areas involved. I did feel like a laboratory rat after all the skin biopsies, scans, endoscopies, colonoscopies, blood tests and medical reviews. However, I was lucky to be supported by the hospital, though there are still a lot of difficulties carrying out daily activities of living.

Learning points.

• Dermatomyositis (DM) can still present with significant muscular weakness and wasting, alongside typical skin features, despite no elevation in levels of creatine kinase. DM with either anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) or anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SAE1) antibodies often is amyopathic.

• Although positivity for DM-related antibodies yields a more specific diagnosis, management is ultimately guided by clinical features.

• Anti-MDA5 antibodies are strongly associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cutaneous ulcers, as opposed to solid tumour malignancies. Anti-SAE1 antibodies are associated with diffuse pruritic rash, malignancies and less severe ILD.

• Response to treatment can be limited and protracted, despite numerous immunosuppressive options of corticosteroids and other disease-modifying agents.