Juvenile dermatomyositis with respiratory failure and peripheral nerve paralyses. A case report.

A 9.5 years old girl suffering from an acute dermatomyositis, developed a respiratory failure, which was successfully managed with mechanical ventilation for 6 days. Paralysis of the right radial and the left peroneus nerves were recognized early in the disease course and were confirmed later by electrophysiologic examinations. A complete remission of the dermatomyositis and the paralysis of the radial nerve were achieved within months with prednisolone medication and physiotherapy; the peroneus nerve paralysis improved only slightly. Further uncommon manifestations were thrombocytopenia, retinitis and cerebral convulsions.