Cardiac involvement in anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis: a case-based review.

Among myositis-specific antibodies, anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) is one of the antibodies with a unique spectrum that is expressed principally in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and, to a lesser extent, in dermatomyositis (DM). In addition to muscle and classical skin involvement, patients with anti-MDA5 DM/CADM are characterized by the expression of rapidly progressive interstitial lung diseases, vasculopathic lesions, and non-erosive arthritis. Although cardiac involvement has been described in other inflammatory myopathies, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and conduction disorders, in anti-MDA5 DM/CADM patients, heart disease is infrequent.