Journal Article

Dermatomyositis associated with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Lee, Sung-Ji, Kang, Hyung-Sik, Kee, Seung-Jung, Kim, Tae-Jong, Park, Yong-Wook, Park, Seong-Chang, Lee, Shin-Seok, Cho, Young-Nan, Kim, Jong-Sun, Kim, Jeong-Chul

2009

Overview

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) with typical cutaneous manifestations. It has been proposed that DM may be caused by autoimmune responses to viral infections, and previous studies have also shown that an association between DM and malignancy. However, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection associated with DM and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rarely encountered. The authors report a case of DM and HCC in a patient with a HBV infection. A 58-year-old man presented erythematous skin rashes on a sun-exposed area of 2 year’s duration, and recent proximal muscle weakness. His medical history revealed that he had a chronic HBV infection. A diagnosis of DM relies on proximal muscle weakness, elevated muscle enzymes, myopathic changes (demonstrated by electromyography), muscle biopsy evidence of myositis, and its characteristic cutaneous findings. A Liver mass in the left lobe visualized by abdominal computed tomography was confirmed histologically as HCC. This case suggests that DM associated with HCC might be caused by a HBV infection.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnostic imaging / Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology / Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - virology / Case Report / Dermatomyositis - diagnosis / Dermatomyositis - virology / Fatal Outcome / Hepatitis / Hepatitis B / Hepatitis B virus / Hepatitis B virus - genetics / Humans / Infections / Inflammatory diseases / Liver cancer / Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging / Liver Neoplasms - pathology / Liver Neoplasms - virology / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Musculoskeletal diseases / Radiography / Rheumatology / Viral infections