Predicting factors of malignancy in dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a case-control study

Malignancies in Korean patients with inflammatory myopathy

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the common type of malignancies in Korean patients with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) and to evaluate the differences of clinical and laboratory findings between patients with malignancy and those without malignancy. Forty-one Korean patients, who were diagnosed as PM or DM, were enrolled in this study. They fulfilled the Bohan and Peter's criteria for a definite diagnosis of PM and DM. Patients with PM were 25 and those with DM were 16. Eleven out of 41 patients (26.8%) had malignancies. The malignancy was diagnosed simultaneously or later in 81.8% of patients with inflammatory myopathy (IM). The breast cancer was the most common malignancy. In this study, forty three years old as a screening age for malignancy had 88.9% sensitivity and 50.2% specificity. The serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) were significantly lower in patients with malignancy than those without malignancy.

Cancer-associated myositis: clinical features and prognostic signs

Idiopathic inflammatory myositis is characterized by progressive weakness of the proximal muscles. There is a higher risk of malignancy than in the normal population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of malignancy among 251 myositis patients. We also compared clinical and immunological characteristics of cancer-associated myositis with primary myositis. There were no malignancies among polymyositis, overlap, or juvenile myositis patients. Twenty-two of ninety dermatomyositis patients also had a malignant disease. Patients with cancer-associated dermatomyositis were significantly older than primary myositis patients and had more severe cutaneous and muscle symptoms. Dysphagia and diaphragmatic involvement were more frequent among cancer-associated patients, while extramuscular features were less frequent. After successful treatment of the malignancy, we were able to manage myositis symptoms. One-year survival rate was significantly better in primary dermatomyositis patients. The subset of cancer-associated myositis differs from primary myositis in many aspects of its clinical and immunological features. Prognosis and life expectancy in cancer-associated myositis patients is determined by the underlying malignant disease. Therefore, age- and sex-specific examinations for detection of an underlying malignancy are important in the management of patients with dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyosite amyopathique associée à un mélanome régressif métastasé

BACKGROUND

Dermatomyositis is a rare and serious inflammatory connective tissue disease characterized by a typical cutaneous rash and myopathy. Amyopathic dermatomyositis is a particular form of dermatomyositis involving only cutaneous signs and without myopathy present for over 2 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 48 year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of cutaneous rash without myopathy characteristic of amyopathic dermatomyositis. Clinical examination revealed extensive axillary adenopathy, histological examination of which suggested secondary melanoma. The patient reported a black nevus in the axillary area that had disappeared 1 year earlier. Curettage of the lymph node was negative and the patient was treated with interferon (3M 3 times a week). Regression of the cutaneous signs was noted.

DISCUSSION

The data, there have been no other reports of paraneoplastic amyopathic dermatomyositis associated with regression of primary melanoma. The literature contains few reports of dermatomyositis associated with melanoma. Amyopathic dermatomyositis may be associated with malignancy.

Dermatomyositis associated with malignant melanoma—A marker of poor prognosis?

BACKGROUND

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory connective tissue disorder well recognized as a paraneoplastic syndrome in adults.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the prognosis of DM associated with malignant melanoma (MM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We systematically searched databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and WEB OF SCIENCE) for articles reporting the concurrence of DM and MM. For the literature study, time of onset of DM in relation to diagnosis of MM (before, concomitant with, or after), stage of MM after restaging (according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] guidelines, 2001), and survival time after diagnosis of DM were recorded. Survival time studies and univariate statistical analyses were performed. Furthermore, we present our own clinical case of a patient with DM concomitantly occurring with regional lymph node metastasis of MM.

RESULTS

In 5 cases DM occurred before, in 6 cases concomitantly with, and in 6 cases after progression of MM. Univariate analysis identified the AJCC stage of MM as a significant prognostic factor. Gender, age, and the time interval between onset of DM and progression of melanoma were unrelated. The 1-year actuarial survival rate was 0% for patients with DM when occurring with MM at stage IV and 60% when occurring with MM at stage III (P < .05). The estimated mean survival time was 6.6 months for patients with MM stage IV and 57 months for stage III.

LIMITATIONS

The conclusions from this study are limited by the relatively small number of articles that reported the association of MM and DM.

CONCLUSION

DM occurring in patients with MM at stage IV is connected with an extremely poor prognosis, whereas the few reported patients with DM and MM at stage III, including our case, have a prognosis similar to stage III patients without DM.

A systematic review of adult-onset clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (dermatomyositis siné myositis): a missing link within the spectrum of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

OBJECTIVE

Classical dermatomyositis (CDM) patients display the hallmark cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM), proximal muscle weakness, and laboratory evidence of myositis. The epidemiology and management of both adult-onset and juvenile-onset CDM has been well characterized. However, the clinical significance of the hallmark inflammatory cutaneous manifestations of DM occurring in individuals who have no clinically significant muscle weakness and normal muscle enzymes for prolonged periods of time (ie, 6 months or longer) has not been clear. The term amyopathic DM (ADM) (synonymous with DM siné myositis) has been proposed to draw attention to such individuals. A related form of DM, "hypomyopathic DM" [HDM], is the presence of DM skin disease for 6 months or longer in individuals who have no muscle weakness but who are found to have some evidence of muscle inflammation upon testing (muscle enzyme levels, electromyogram, muscle biopsy, muscle magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). Clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) is a designation that has been proposed for patients having either ADM or HDM. The clinically amyopathic component of this designation was coined to emphasize the fact that the only clinical problem being experienced by these patients at the time of diagnosis is their DM skin disease. Our personal experience suggests that the CADM subphenotype might be more prevalent in adults than has been thought previously. To test this hypothesis and address questions relating to the optimal management and prognosis of such patients, we have systematically reviewed the published literature in this area.

METHODS

We carried out a systematic review of the published literature on adult-onset CADM as defined in Table 1 through May 1, 2004.

RESULTS

We identified 291 adult-onset CADM cases (18 years or older) reported from over 19 countries. The average duration of DM skin disease was 3.74 years (range, 6 months [by definition] to > 20 years), and 73% were female. Among 37 patients with HDM who were identified, the average duration of disease was 5.4 years, and none had developed clinically significant weakness at the time of the reports. Thirty-seven of the reported CADM patients developed muscle weakness greater than 6 months after onset of their skin disease (15 months to 6 years). For the sake of this discussion, such patients have been analyzed under the designation of "CADM --> CDM." Somewhat surprisingly, 36/291 (13%) of the identified published CADM patients developed interstitial lung disease. Incidental to our review, we also identified 10 published cases of individuals having DM skin disease and interstitial lung disease without muscle weakness, 7 of whom died from interstitial lung disease less than 6 months after onset of their DM skin disease (the term pre-myopathic DM coined by others has been used here to refer to such patients). In addition, an associated internal malignancy was found in 41/291 (14%) of the identified CADM cases. A positive antinuclear antibody was reported in 63% and myositis-specific autoantibodies (eg, Jo-1, Mi-2) in only 3.5% of the reported CADM patients in which such data were available.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this analysis suggests that the CADM subphenotype is more common than has been thought previously and that such patients may comprise a relatively high proportion of DM patients followed by dermatologists. Some CADM patients also have been observed to develop overt proximal muscle weakness years after onset of their DM skin disease. In addition, CADM patients appear to be at risk of developing the same potentially fatal disease associations/complications for which CDM patients are at risk (eg, interstitial lung disease and internal malignancy). Population-based studies of the epidemiology and optimal management of CADM patients, including efforts to identify risk factors associated with potentially fatal outcomes such as late-onset muscle weakness, interstitial lung disease, and malignancy, are needed. As an incidental finding to this literature review, we also identified a small number of reported cases of often-fatal interstitial lung disease occurring shortly after the onset of DM skin disease (< 6 months) in the complete absence of muscle weakness. This subphenotype, referred to as "pre-myopathic DM," is one with which dermatologists should be aware as early diagnosis and aggressive management can be lifesaving.

Cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes: uncommon presentations

Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of clinical manifestations associated with a malignancy, but not directly related to the primary tumor itself or to its metastases. Characteristically, they follow a course parallel to the tumor, resolve with successful treatment of the primary tumor, and tend to recur with its relapse or the onset of metastases. The mechanism by which they occur is not well understood, but may be related to the production of bioactive substances by or in response to the tumor, such as polypeptide hormones, hormone-like peptides, antibodies or immune complexes, cytokines, or growth factors.

Immune responses to DNA mismatch repair enzymes hMSH2 and hPMS1 in patients with pancreatic cancer, dermatomyositis and polymyositis

To identify tumor antigens useful for diagnosis and immunotherapy of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we applied a SEREX approach with a cDNA library made from 5 pancreatic cancer cell lines and sera obtained from 8 patients with pancreatic cancer, and isolated total 32 genes, including 14 previously characterized genes and 18 genes with unknown functions. Among these isolated antigens, serum IgG antibodies for 2 isolated DNA mismatch repair enzymes, Homo sapiens mutS homolog 2 (hMSH2) and Homo sapiens postmeiotic segregation increased 1 (hPMS1), were detected in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and dermatomyositis (DM), and polymyositis (PM), but not in sera from healthy individuals. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that hMSH2 and hPMS1 were over-expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared to normal pancreatic ducts. These results suggested that hMSH2 and hPMS1 may be useful as CD4+ helper T cell antigens for immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer patients and that serum IgG antibodies may be useful for diagnosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and DM/PM.

Dermatomyosite avec nécroses cutanées révélatrice d'un cancer de la trompe utérine

INTRODUCTION

Adult dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory myopathy associated with typical cutaneous lesions and an increased incidence of internal malignancies, notably cancers of the female genital tract. Nevertheless, fallopian tube carcinoma is exceptionally associated with dermatomyositis.

EXEGESIS

We report an unusual case of dermatomyositis because of cutaneous necrosis revealing a cancer of the fallopian tube.

CONCLUSION

Predictive factors of cancer can improve prognosis of dermatomyositis due to earlier diagnosis of associated cancer. In our observation as in literature review, cutaneous necrosis lesions are highly predictive of an associated neoplasia even as rare as a fallopian tube carcinoma.

Dermatomiositis clínicamente amiopática: presentación de tres casos

Dermatomyositis is a connective tissue disease which has several factors involved in its etiology. Recently, the existence of a sub-type called amyopathic dermatomyositis has been accepted, whose cutaneous manifestations are indistinguishable from the ones that appear in the classic form of the disease. However, it is different from the classic form in that clinical findings of muscular involvement are initially absent. The association of these two sets of symptoms with the possible presence of an underlying neoplastic process has been described on numerous occasions, and has been the subject of extensive debate. We present three patients with amyopathic dermatomyositis, two males aged 27 and 45 and a female aged 54, the latter associated with a malignant process, and we discuss and review the main differential features of the entity and its relationship with different types of neoplasms.

Dermatomiositis amiopática asociada a recurrencia de cáncer de mama

The term "amyopathic dermatomyositis", or dermatomyositis "sine myositis" is used to describe those patients who present with the skin manifestations typical of dermatomyositis, but with no evidence of inflammatory myopathy. Amyopathic dermatomyositis may be associated with an underlying neoplasm, the same as with classic dermatomyositis. We present the case of a 59-year-old female patient, with cutaneous findings typical of dermatomyositis, with no proximal muscle weakness and with normal serum muscle enzymes, which stayed in a normal range throughout the later follow-up period, although the electromyogram performed six months later showed alterations with a myopathic pattern. These skin symptoms raised the suspicion of an occult neoplasm, and a recurrence of the patient's breast cancer, apparently inactive for many years, was finally found. The association of amyopathic dermatomyositis with a recurrence of breast cancer is exceptional.

The predictive value of creatine phosphokinase and alkaline phosphatase in identification of heterotopic ossification in patients after spinal cord injury11No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated

OBJECTIVE

To determine the predictive value of serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in identifying patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who are at risk to develop heterotopic ossification (HO) at the hips.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary-care level I trauma center.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive sample of 18 adults with acute traumatic SCI. Patients were excluded if they had medical or surgical conditions that are known to cause elevated enzyme levels.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Conventional hip radiographs were taken approximately 3 weeks after injury and again from between 3 to 6 months after injury. Serum ALP and CPK were measured approximately 3 weeks after SCI. Patients were later separated into 2 groups: group 1 was comprised of those who developed HO and group 2 was comprised of those who did not.

RESULTS

The initial radiographs showed no evidence of HO in either group. The radiographs taken at 3 to 6 months showed HO in 7 of 18 patients. The levels of CPK at the initial evaluation were significantly higher (R=.947, P<.0024) in group 1 than in group 2 and correlated with the severity of HO. There was no correlation between serum ALP levels and subsequent development of HO between the 2 groups (P=.07).

CONCLUSION

Elevated serum levels of CPK have value in predicting the HO.

Dermatomyositis and malignancy in Tunisia: a multicenter national retrospective study of 20 cases

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

The aim of our study was to report the epidemiologic, clinical, and biologic profiles of dermatomyositis (DM) associated with malignancy in patients from Tunisia. From January 1982 to January 2000, we collected retrospectively 20 case reports of DM associated with cancer from the different university hospital centers of Tunisia. Initial workup included anamnesis, clinical examination, cancer staging and classification, serum muscle enzymes (creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aldolase, and transaminases), electromyography, and muscular biopsy. We calculated the median survival and mean value of all the variables. Comparisons of statistical tests were done with the Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

Among the 130 DM cases of our study, 20 were associated with cancer (15.38%). The mean age of our patients was 49.6 years and the sex ratio (female/male) was equal to 3. Cancers were mainly those of the breast (35%) and nasopharynx (25%). DM followed a paraneoplastic course in 90% of the cases. The profile of seric muscular enzymes showed a significant statistical difference (P =.05) between a group of patients with severe muscular weakness and a group with moderate muscle weakness only for creatine kinase. The median survival was 36.5 months after diagnosis of DM and 48.6 months after that of cancer. The 5-year actuarial survival was 38% as related to cancer and 16% as related to DM. Mortality was 45%, in 90% as a result of cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, nasopharyngeal carcinoma represents the second cancer associated with DM, after breast neoplasm, demonstrating the frequency of these 2 cancers in our country. Despite our reduced number of study samples, our study also suggests a relationship between severe muscle weakness and high seric muscle enzymes.

Inflammatory myopathies: clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects

The three major forms of immune-mediated inflammatory myopathy are dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), and inclusion-body myositis (IBM). They each have distinctive clinical and histopathologic features that allow the clinician to reach a specific diagnosis in most cases. Magnetic resonance imaging is sometimes helpful, particularly if the diagnosis of IBM is suspected but has not been formally evaluated. Myositis-specific antibodies are not helpful diagnostically but may be of prognostic value; most antibodies have low sensitivity. Muscle biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis of an inflammatory myopathy and to allow unusual varieties such as eosinophilic, granulomatous, and parasitic myositis, and macrophagic myofasciitis, to be recognized. The treatment of the inflammatory myopathies remains largely empirical and relies upon the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and intravenous immunoglobulin, all of which have nonselective effects on the immune system. Further controlled clinical trials are required to evaluate the relative efficacy of the available therapeutic modalities particularly in combinations, and of newer immunosuppressive agents (mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus) and cytokine-based therapies for the treatment of resistant cases of DM, PM, and IBM. Improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of muscle injury in the inflammatory myopathies should lead to the development of more specific forms of immunotherapy for these conditions.

Rheumatic syndromes associated with malignancy

The relation between rheumatic syndromes and an underlying malignancy is a complex one. As a result of autoimmunity, an aberrant immune response, or the use of immunomodulatory drugs, many of the rheumatic diseases appear to pose an increased risk for the development of malignancy. Unfortunately, for many of the same reasons, the presence of an underlying malignancy can result in the development of features of rheumatic disease. Awareness of the associations between rheumatic syndromes and malignancy will aid the clinician in the accurate diagnosis of underlying pathology, more effective treatment of both the symptoms and underlying disease, and appropriate surveillance for the development of later complications.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies - myositis

The inflammatory myopathies - myositis - encompass a heterogeneous group of chronic muscle disorders of unknown origin and with varying prognoses. New clinical phenotypes of myositis have been identified since the most widely used classification criteria were proposed in 1975. Based on clinical and histopathological features, inclusion body myositis was identified. Furthermore, the myositis-specific autoantibodies may also identify different clinical phenotypes and serve as prognostic markers. The different classifications and inclusion criteria that have been used in different studies make some epidemiological data uncertain. In order to improve our knowledge of causative factors, as well as of pathogenic mechanisms, there is a need for revision and also for an international acceptance of the classification criteria. During recent years, our knowledge has increased regarding the role of some genetic and environmental factors that could affect susceptibility for developing myositis as well as the prognosis. Whether there is an association between myositis and malignancies has been a subject of controversy for many years and recent epidemiological data have brought some clarification on this issue.

Clinical presentation of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

The hallmark of the inflammatory myopathies is muscle weakness. Although this feature can lead to significant disability and impairment of activities of daily living, its initial presentation may not be recognized early. Older individuals, in particular, may feel that the changes caused by myositis reflect the effects of aging rather than those of a disease process, and diagnosis, therefore, may be delayed. This factor has negative impact on the response to therapy. Inclusion body myositis, with its insidious onset in older people, and laboratory findings which may not be markedly abnormal, presents a diagnostic challenge. DM, with its characteristic symptomatic rash, is generally brought to medical attention more quickly. Another area of diagnostic concern occurs when associated organ involvement precedes myopathy. This has been observed, for example, with interstitial lung disease, and again represents a challenge to physicians. In this connection, the antisynthetase syndrome presenting with fevers, Raynaud's features, arthritis, or pulmonary involvement may not initially be recognized as a manifestation of inflammatory muscle disease. Each subgroup of IIM may present with a variety of extramuscular features that can complicate diagnosis and alter therapy and prognosis. This is particularly true for the pulmonary, GI, and cardiac manifestations and when cancer is associated with myositis. For these reasons, such features of IIM should be carefully evaluated, treated, and monitored over the course of the illness; in some cases these may play a greater role in determining the outcome of patients with IIM than the muscle involvement itself. It is hoped that in the future increased familiarity with the manifestations of the inflammatory myopathies, together with a better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis, will lead to more rapid diagnosis and more effective treatments.

Malignancy in patients with inflammatory myopathy

The most recent evidence from population-based cohort studies confirms the association between malignancy and dermatomyositis and polymyositis. These studies show an even stronger association between polymyositis and malignancy than previous studies, suggesting less misclassification. This is particularly true of one study that used pathologic criteria to distinguish between myositis subtypes. Recent data also confirm that the association for dermatomyositis and polymyositis is not purely caused by diagnostic suspicion or surveillance bias. More data are still required to determine individual cancer risks, although it appears that ovarian and lung cancer are associated with dermatomyositis while lung cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are associated with polymyositis. An association between malignant disease and inclusion body myositis has also been verified for the first time. Of interest, too, is the increasing number of reports documenting cases in which the clinical course of the myositis mirrors that of the cancer, supporting the notion that in some instances, myositis is a paraneoplastic disorder.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: an update on diagnosis, pathogenesis, and therapy

Since the discovery of the first clinically relevant anti neuronal antibody specific for a paraneoplastic aetiology in 1985, the number of such reactivities has grown at a rate of about one per year. Clinicians can now diagnose a paraneoplastic syndrome much more easily. This ability is especially important because, typically, the neurological symptoms occur before the cancer is diagnosed. Early tumour diagnosis is essential, because effective treatment of the cancer still seems to be the most efficient treatment option for the neurological symptoms. Immuno modulatory therapy should, nevertheless, be initiated as early as possible and seems especially helpful for peripheral syndromes and limbic encephalitis. The recent fundamental advances in understanding of the autoimmune pathology of these disorders, especially the role of cytotoxic T cells, should eventually lead to more effective treatment options.

Paraneoplastic dermatoses

Skin manifestations of systemic disease and malignancy are protean. The recognition of a potentially paraneoplastic dermatosis as such must prompt an investigation for occult malignancy. Lack of familiarity with cutaneous clues of internal malignancy may delay diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It is important to consider a paraneoplastic process in the differential diagnosis of a number of eruptive and treatment-resistant dermatoses. These dermatoses may be the first sign of an occult neoplasm. Their recognition may assist in cancer detection and the swift induction of appropriate therapy.

Dermatomyositis: an overview of recent progress with emphasis on dermatologic aspects

Important points regarding DM and C-ADM are as follows: C-ADM is a working functional designation for patients having the skin-only and skin-predominant subsets of DM, amyopathic DM, and hypomyopathic DM. C-ADM seems to have approximately 10% the incidence of classic DM in whites and possibly a higher incidence in Asians. Some patients who present with C-ADM, with or without subclinical laboratory abnormalities, can slowly progress to develop symptomatic muscle weakness over a period of years, whereas others go for 10 to 20 years and longer without the appearance of muscle weakness. C-ADM patients are at risk for potentially life-threatening complications of classic DM, such as interstitial lung disease, which may occur in up to 10% of C-ADM patients. This risk seems to be even greater in some ethnic subgroups (e.g., Japanese). C-ADM patients may also be at increased risk for internal malignancy and until further studies are carried out to confirm the statistical significance of this association, all such patients should have a thorough evaluation for internal malignancy, identical to the approach currently used in classic DM patients. Dermatologists are in the best position initially to diagnose C-ADM patients and can contribute greatly to their overall management and quality of life. Ongoing vigilance is required, however, for complications that can arise in C-ADM patients including potentially fatal interstitial lung disease, internal malignancy, delayed onset of muscle weakness from myositis, and complications of systemic drug therapy. Topical therapy with broad-spectrum sunscreens, anti-inflammatories, and antipruritics should be maximized during the initial management of the cutaneous manifestations of either classic DM or C-ADM. Single-agent or combined aminoquinoline antimalarial therapy represents the safest initial form of systemic therapy for DM-specific skin disease occurring in any clinical setting; however, this approach tends to be less effective in general than for cutaneous LE. There is a theoretical rationale for and limited preliminary successful anecdotal experience with the use of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in refractory cases of classic DM and C-ADM. Cautious systematic clinical trials in this area should be considered.

Inflammatory muscle diseases

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis are treatable disorders of skeletal muscle. Despite their clinical similarities, they appear to have fundamentally different autoimmune origins. Inclusion body myositis, from its origins 30 years ago, has emerged as the commonest acquired myopathy of the elderly. Despite inflammatory changes, it is unclear whether it should be considered a primary inflammatory myopathy, and it generally responds poorly to the same treatments that are effective in other inflammatory myopathies.