A young female case of asymptomatic immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy: a potential diagnostic option of antibody testing for rhabdomyolysis

Neuromuscul Disord. 2023 Feb;33(2):183-186. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2022.12.012. Epub 2022 Dec 24.

Abstract

Anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is a neuromuscular disorder that presents muscle weakness in proximal extremities and/or the trunk with an elevation of creatine kinase (CK). Young and asymptomatic anti-HMGCR IMNM patients are very rare and a treatment regimen has not been established. The present case, a 17-year-old woman without any muscular symptoms, only showed hyperCKemia that was detected by chance. After close examinations, including a muscle biopsy and antibody search, she was diagnosed as anti-HMGCR IMNM, and initial treatment with methotrexate and continuous intravenous immunoglobulin seemed to be effective. The present case is the unusually young asymptomatic case of anti-HMGCR IMNM. The diagnosis was successfully made, leading to the early introduction of a treatment. Given the course of this case, we believe that the preceding antibody testing is one of the diagnostic option for rhabdomyolysis.

Keywords: Asymptomatic; HMGCR; IMNM; IVIg; MTX; Myopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / pathology
  • Coenzyme A
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases* / pathology
  • Myositis*
  • Necrosis / diagnosis
  • Necrosis / pathology
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Rhabdomyolysis* / diagnosis
  • Rhabdomyolysis* / pathology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Coenzyme A