Dermatomyositis with elevated cardiac troponin T

A case of dermatomyositis with elevated cardiac troponin T(cTnT) is reported. A 38-year-old female presented with fever and muscle weakness for 2 months, and erythemas on the trunk and extremities for 1 month. Laboratory and auxilliary tests showed creatine kinase(CK), MB isoenzyme of creatine phosphokinase(CK-MB) and c Tn T elevated obviously.Damage of cardiac muscle was excluded after repeated negative results of electrocardiogram(ECG) and cardiac ultrasonography. Dermatomyositis was diagnosed. After 3-month treatment with glucocorticosteroids and methotrexate, the symptoms of weakness and pain of muscle relieved, and the levels of CK, CK-MB and c Tn T decreased. According to the review of the domestic and foreign literatures, the elevated c Tn T level in the patients with dermatomyositis had been reported. In conclusion, the interpretation of the elevation of c Tn T has to be interpretated with caution clinically.