# Post-COVID-19 Inflammatory Myopathy With Dermatomyositis–Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) Overlap Features and Epiglottitis: A Case Report

**Authors:** Nicholas Lorenz, Amia Mourad, Grant Weiderman, Juan Daniel Pulido

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.99362 · 2025-12-16

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare autoimmune condition that developed after a patient had COVID-19, showing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

The paper presents a unique case of post-COVID-19 inflammatory myopathy with overlap features of dermatomyositis and MCTD.

## Key findings

- The patient developed inflammatory myopathy after a recent COVID-19 infection.
- The case showed overlap features of dermatomyositis and mixed connective tissue disease.
- Timely immunosuppressive therapy is crucial to reduce long-term complications.

## Abstract

Autoimmune inflammatory myopathies can emerge after viral illnesses and may present with a wide range of neuromuscular and systemic symptoms. Post-viral immune dysregulation may unmask or trigger overlap syndromes characterized by muscle inflammation, dysphagia, airway involvement, and broader immune activation. This report describes a case of inflammatory myopathy with dermatomyositis and mixed connective tissue disease-associated antibodies occurring after a recent COVID-19 infection, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and severity of presentation. The case underscores the importance of recognizing post-COVID autoimmune complications and initiating timely immunosuppressive therapy to reduce long-term morbidity.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** inflammatory myopathy (MONDO:0007827), dermatomyositis (MONDO:0016367), mixed connective tissue disease (MONDO:0005854), epiglottitis (MONDO:0005753)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Autoimmune inflammatory myopathies (MESH:D009220), Dermatomyositis (MESH:D003882), Post-COVID-19 (MESH:D000094024), immune dysregulation (OMIM:614878), muscle inflammation (MESH:D007249), Epiglottitis (MESH:D004826), viral (MESH:D014777), neuromuscular and systemic symptoms (MESH:D020879), autoimmune complications (MESH:D020274), COVID-19 infection (MESH:D000086382), MCTD (MESH:D008947), dysphagia (MESH:D003680)

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12805594/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12805594