Dermatomyositis and rapidly progressive fibrosing alveolitis.

Fibrosing alveolitis is a rare complication of dermatomyositis.' Since the association between the two conditions was first described2 about 40 cases have been published. Most patients with fibrosing alveolitis associated with dermatomyositis respond well to corticosteroids. A recent report3 suggests that early, potentially reversible lesions occur in the lungs, which if not treated at an early stage are followed by irreversible, steroid-resistant fibrosis. We report two patients with dermatomyositis who developed rapidly progressive lung disease despite early immunosuppressive therapy.