Dermatomyositis Associated with Crohn's Disease

A 29-year-old woman with quiescent Crohn's disease developed severe myositis. Serum creatine phospho- kinase was markedly elevated, and muscle biopsy showed typical findings of dermatomyositis. The muscular symptoms promptly responded to combined treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine. The association between inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory myopathies is very rare. We review the clinical, pathological, and pathophysiological aspects of this association.