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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2012; 10(04): 309-312
DOI: 10.3233/JPN-120580
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Myopathy as the initial presentation of Addison's disease

Farouq I. Thabet
a   Department of Neurology, Pediatric Neurology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
,
Xiuhua L. Bozarth
a   Department of Neurology, Pediatric Neurology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
,
Alexandru C. Barboi
b   Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

01 March 2012

15 May 2012

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

A 16-year-old patient presented with three presyncopal episodes, muscle weakness, elevated creatine kinase and myopathic changes on electromyography, was diagnosed with Addison's disease through laboratory testing. Corticosteroid replacement produced marked improvement in muscle strength and normalized creatine kinase levels. In children, low corticosteroid state should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a myopathy, particularly in the setting of other signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a myopathy as the initial presentation of Addison's disease in this age group.

Keywords

Myopathy - elevated creatine kinase - Addison's disease