Korean J Med.  2009 Jan;76(1):110-113.

Polymyositis as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

• Lee HW
• Choi HK
• Kim SJ
• Hwang DY
• Choi JY
• Cheong JW
• Min YH

Abstract

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains one of the major complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although cGVHD has various manifestations in almost all organs, cases of cGVHD involving skeletal muscle are rare. We experienced a 26-year-old man with polymyositis with no other concurrent cGVHD after HLA-matched myeloablative transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia. He had a history of acute and chronic GVHD. The patient complained of fever and myalgia 3 years after transplantation. The serum creatine kinase (CK, 2,223 IU/L) and aldolase (87.6 sigmaU/mL) were elevated. The muscle biopsy and electromyographic findings were consistent with myositis with necrosis. His condition improved dramatically with immunosuppressive therapy. Although muscle involvement, alone, in cGVHD is very rare, early diagnosis and proper treatment are still important.

Keyword

Graft vs. Host Disease; Polymyositis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Bone Marrow
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Creatine Kinase
Early Diagnosis
Fever
Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase
Graft vs Host Disease
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Humans
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
Muscle, Skeletal
Muscles
Myositis
Necrosis
Polymyositis
Transplants
Creatine Kinase
Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase