SARS-Cov-2 Infection and severe proximal myopathy secondary to dermatomyositis and overlap systemic sclerosis: A Case Report from Zambia

Authors

  • Patrice N. Mukomena Eden University, School of Medicine
  • Wamundila Kawana University of Zambia, School of Medicine
  • Malika Taufiq Mum's Care Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Oliver Sutherland Evelyn Hone Colleges of Applied Arts and Commerce, School of Applied Health and Sciences
  • Sally Trollip Lusaka Apex Medical University, School of Medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55320/mjz.49.1.48

Keywords:

Autoimmune disease, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, overlap syndrome, proximal myopathy, SARS-cov-2, COVID-19

Abstract

Bckground: Myositis has been reported to be associated or triggered by viruses. Genetic and environmental factors are documented risk for myopathies. Viruses have also been shown to modify the clinical course of auto-immune diseases.
We therefore report a case of SARS-Cov-2 infection in a 26-year-old female black Zambian patient with proximal myopathy.


Case Presentation: We present the case of a 26-yearold chemical factory worker with severe acute
respiratory distress syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-cov-2) infection and proximal myopathy. She presented to a local private hospital with fever, weakness and flu-like symptoms after being exposed to a colleague diagnosed with SARS-cov-2 infection at the time Zambia declared the July 2021 third wave of SARS-cov-2pandemic. She also reported difficulties in climbing stairs, had Raynaud's phenomenon, proximal myopathy, classic dermatomyositis features, symptoms of
systemic sclerosis, raisedcreatine phosphokinase (CPK), and a positive nasopharyngeal PCR test for SARS-Cov-2 infection. 

Conclusions: We presented, for the first time in Zambia, the case of a patient with SARS-Cov-2 infection and severe proximal myopathy secondary to newly diagnosed dermatomyositis and overlap systemic sclerosis. The myopathy appeared to have been worsened by SARS-Cov-2 viral infection.

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Author Biographies

Patrice N. Mukomena, Eden University, School of Medicine

Department of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia

Oliver Sutherland, Evelyn Hone Colleges of Applied Arts and Commerce, School of Applied Health and Sciences

Medical Imaging Department, Lusaka, Zambia

Sally Trollip, Lusaka Apex Medical University, School of Medicine

Department of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia

Published

05-08-2022

How to Cite

Mukomena, P. N., Kawana, W., Taufiq, M., Sutherland, O., & Trollip, S. (2022). SARS-Cov-2 Infection and severe proximal myopathy secondary to dermatomyositis and overlap systemic sclerosis: A Case Report from Zambia. Medical Journal of Zambia, 49(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.55320/mjz.49.1.48

Issue

Section

Case Report