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Dermatomyositis with massive ascites

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Abstract

There have been few reports of dermatomyositis causing ascites. Here we report a case of a 63-year-old man complaining of general fatigue and gastromegaly. Abdominal examination revealed distension without tenderness. Serum myogenic enzyme was elevated. Electromyographic investigation indicated low amplitude signs, which were compatible with muscle disorder. Abdominal paracentesis on the fifth day yielded 2,500 ml clear, serous fluid. The specific gravity was 1.026 (range 1.005–1.015), with a positive Rivalta reaction, 3.4 g/dl total protein, and 1.59 g/dl albumin, suggesting exudate. Excluding the other causes of exudative ascites, we considered that the ascites was caused by dermatomyositis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, The Himeji St. Mary’s Hospital, Himeji, Japan

    Seisuke Ota & Akinori Kasahara

  2. Department of Dermatology, The Himeji Red Cross Hospital, Himeji, Japan

    Taku Yamada

  3. Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Seisuke Ota & Mitsune Tanimoto

Authors
  1. Seisuke Ota
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  2. Akinori Kasahara
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  3. Taku Yamada
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  4. Mitsune Tanimoto
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Correspondence to Seisuke Ota.

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Ota, S., Kasahara, A., Yamada, T. et al. Dermatomyositis with massive ascites. Rheumatol Int 27, 877–879 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0305-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0305-x

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