Diabetic myonecrosis: A case series of two dialysis-dependent patients

Abstract

Diabetic myonecrosis (DMN) is a rare microangiopathic disorder that can present as an acutely painful and swollen limb in patients with established diabetes mellitus. The condition can be diagnosed noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging and resolves with analgesia, bed rest, and glycemic control. Due to a relative lack of awareness regarding the condition, avoidable interventions such as muscle biopsies and even surgery are sometimes pursued, which have been associated with prolonged recovery times. The majority of patients with DMN have diabetic nephropathy, yet this condition is not widely recognized in the nephrology community, resulting in delayed diagnosis and patients undergoing unnecessary and potentially harmful investigations. There is therefore a need for increased awareness of the condition among renal physicians. Here, we report the cases of two patients on hemodialysis who were ultimately diagnosed with DMN, along with a review of the literature.