ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the death causes of of dermatomyositis(DM)and polymyositis(PM)patients with interstitial pneumonia.Methods A retrospectively analysis of the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 15 dead DM and PM patients with interstitial pneumonia was carried out,and 23 survivors served as controls.Results The age of the dead group was(50.1?12.0)years old,and 12(80%)patients died within the six months after onset.The mortality was higher in the acute or subacute interstitial pneumonia patients than that in the chronic patients.With longer course of the disease,lung infections became the major cause of death.Significantly higher serum lactate dehydrogenase,glutamate- pyruvate transaminase,glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase levels were found in the dead group.The dead group had higher incidence of dyspnea and“Velcro”-like crackles and louer arterial oxygen pressure.The elevation of lactate dehydrogenase indicated worse prognosis.The elevation of creatine kinase and anti Jo-1 antibody werent the death causes. Conclusion The early onset of interstitial lung disease and lung infection were the major death causes in dermatomyositis and polymyositis patients.The earlier treatment of pneumonia-may improve the prognosis and reduce mortality.