Korean J Intern Med.  2014 Mar;29(2):231-235. 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.231.

Dermatomyositis associated with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

• Yang SY
• Cha BK
• Kim G
• Lee HW
• Kim JG
• Chang SK
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 1792040
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.231

Abstract

Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with typical cutaneous manifestations. It has been proposed that dermatomyositis may be caused by autoimmune responses to viral infections. Previous studies have shown an association between dermatomyositis and malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection associated with dermatomyositis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been very rarely reported. Here, we report a rare case of dermatomyositis coinciding with HBV-associated HCC. A 55-year-old male was confirmed to have HCC and dermatomyositis based on proximal muscle weakness, typical skin manifestations, elevated muscle enzyme levels, and muscle biopsy findings. This case suggests that HCC and/or a chronic HBV infection may be factors in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis through a paraneoplastic mechanism.

Keyword

Dermatomyositis; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/*virology
Dermatomyositis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*virology
Disease Progression
Fatal Outcome
Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use
Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy
Humans
Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/*virology
Male
Middle Aged
Paraneoplastic Syndromes/diagnosis/drug therapy/*virology
Risk Factors
Time Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Antiviral Agents
Glucocorticoids