Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in a Clinically Quiescent Dermatomyositis

A 60-year-old Filipino woman diagnosed with dermatomyositis was initially on prednisone and methotrexate. She eventually developed interstitial lung disease (ILD) and so methotrexate was shifted to azathioprine; however, azathioprine was discontinued due to cutaneous tuberculosis. Over eight years, the dermatomyositis was controlled by prednisone alone but the ILD worsened. This case demonstrated that the course of ILD may be independent of dermatomyositis.