Dermatomyositis-Like Illness Following Kava-Kava Ingestion
- 1 December 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology
- Vol. 5 (6) , 342-345
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00124743-199912000-00008
Abstract
Kava-kava is an herbal medication, most commonly used to treat anxiety. It is derived from the roots of the pepper plant, Piper methysticum. A 47-year-old white woman presented with a rash and proximal muscle weakness 2 weeks after ingestion of kava-kava. Her creatine kinase level was elevated at 8654 U/L, and an electromyogram showed a myopathic pattern. Skin biopsy and muscle biopsy samples showed changes consistent with dermatomyositis. The patient improved with prednisone and discontinuation of the kava-kava. No similar association between kava-kava ingestion and dermatomyositis has been reported previously.Keywords
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