A. Selva-o'Callaghan et al., Respiratory failure due to muscle weakness in inflammatory myopathies: maintenance therapy with home mechanical ventilation, RHEUMATOLOG, 39(8), 2000, pp. 914-916
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Re
spiratory complications are a common feature, but ventilatory insufficiency
is rare in these patients. We describe here three patients diagnosed with
inflammatory myopathy (polymyositis) with respiratory failure due to muscle
weakness who did not respond to immunosuppressive therapy. Mechanical vent
ilation at home with nasal or tracheal intermittent positive pressure resul
ted in improved chronic hypoventilation. This treatment improves the qualit
y of life of patients with inflammatory myopathies and can be lifesaving in
some cases.