Inclusion body myositis in connective tissue disorders: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) who developed inclusion body myositis (IBM) which, contrary to the typical presentation of this disorder, was symmetrical in nature although the diagnosis was only made after electron microscopy was performed. Therapy with increased doses of methotrexate proved to be beneficial, with the patient having full recovery after 8 months of therapy. It appears that a subset of IBM may be related to autoimmune disorders, an issue that was disputed in the past, and these patients may have a better prognosis than typical IBM patients. This is the first case report of IBM in a patient who had the dual diagnosis of SLE and SS.