Polymyositis Presenting With Respiratory Failure and Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 30-year-old woman with polymyositis experienced severe complications including respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, highlighting the need for prompt and comprehensive care.

Contribution

This case report highlights the rare and severe presentation of polymyositis with respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.

Findings

Polymyositis can lead to life-threatening complications like respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.

Multidisciplinary management, including immunosuppressive therapy and mechanical ventilation, was crucial for the patient's care.

Early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment are essential for managing severe autoimmune diseases.

Abstract

This case report presents a 30-year-old woman who experienced respiratory failure and cardiac arrest as a complication of polymyositis, which is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy disease. Autoimmune diseases, such as polymyositis, can cause respiratory failure due to respiratory muscle weakness or interstitial lung involvement, leading to significant complications if not promptly addressed. The patient's complex clinical presentation included progressive muscle weakness, respiratory distress, and cardiac instability, underscoring the necessity for a comprehensive diagnostic approach. The report details the patient's clinical course, diagnostic workup, and multidisciplinary management, which involved immunosuppressive therapy, mechanical ventilation, and physiotherapy. This case emphasizes the critical role of a coordinated, multidisciplinary team in diagnosing and managing severe autoimmune diseases with multisystem involvement.

Figures