[Dilated myocardiopathy and polymyositis. A clinical case and critical review of the literature].

A patient affected by a "limb-girdl syndrome" type of polymyositis shows clinical symptoms and signs of progressively worsening dilatative myocardiopathy. The diagnosis was based on well established criteria, such as the following: EF < 45-55%, left ventricular telediastolic diameter higher than 2.7 cm/mq, and normal wall thickness (L. Mestroni 1994, W.H. Abelmann 1989, et al.). The above-mentioned clinical picture was further complicated by amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis. After the case presentation, and having exhaustively and critically revised the existing literature on polymyositis associated dilatative myocardiopathy and on eventual joint pathogenetic mechanisms, the essay in question focuses on the discussion of the clinical data brought forth in the first part.