Table 1. Laboratory results from the initial visit and subsequent visits.

Laboratory tests	Normal reference values	On admission	28 days On the steroid azathioprine	42 days Azathioprine discontinued and rituximab initiated	56 days	84 days	112 days	168 days	365 days
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate	0/15 mm/hour	7
C-Reactive Protein	≤ 9 mg/L	< 2.90	< 2.90
Creatinine Kinase	26-192 U/L	15,000	2,040	1,300	989	837	132	114	96
Aspartate Aminotransferase	10-40 U/L	309	86		47	29	20	20
Alanine Aminotransferase	12-78 U/L	691	447		151	49	38	36
Total Bilirubin	0-1.5 mg/dL	0.4	0.4		0.6	0.4	0.4	0.3
Myoglobin	9-83 ng/mL	> 1000
Thyroid-stimulating Hormone	0.4-5 uIU/mL	2.124			2.330
Carcinoembryonic Antigen		Negative
Myositis-specific Antibodies		Negative
CA-19-9		Negative
CA 125		Negative
Rheumatoid Factor	< 15 IU/mL	< 10
Antinuclear Antibody		Negative
Aldolase	1.5-8 U/L	135	63.6		6.1