Eosinophilic myositis in calpainopathy: could immunosuppression of the eosinophilic myositis alter the early natural course of the dystrophic disease?

Abstract

An 11-year-old girl with a calpain-3 gene (CAPN-3) mutation and eosinophilic myositis on muscle biopsy had high serum CK levels and eosinophil counts which showed spontaneous fluctuations. After commencement of immunosuppressive therapy reciprocal changes occurred in response to alterations in doses of the medications. Subacutely evolving and spreading muscle weakness developed during tapering of the immunosuppressive medications. These observations suggest that either the occurrence of eosinophilic myositis or the withdrawal of the immunosuppressive treatment may have accelerated the clinical course of the calpainopathy in this case. The positive effect of immunosuppressive therapy might have implications for the management of calpainopathy with an inflammatory component.