Open AccessChronic-graft-versus-host-disease-related polymyositis: a 17-months-old child with a rare and late complication of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Author(s) -
Matteo Chinello,
Rita Balter,
Massimiliano De Bortoli,
Virginia Vitale,
Ada Zaccaron,
Elisa Bonetti,
Paola Tonin,
Gaetano Vattemi,
Valeria Guglielmi,
Simone Cesaro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
mediterranean journal of hematology and infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2035-3006
DOI - 10.4084/mjhid.2020.002
Subject(s) - medicine , polymyositis , rituximab , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , transplantation , graft versus host disease , stem cell , hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis , complication , disease , surgery , lymphoma , biology , genetics
Background Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) occurs in 20–30% of paediatric patients receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Neuromuscular disorders such as polymyositis are considered a rare and distinctive but non-diagnostic manifestation of cGVHD and, in the absence of other characteristic signs and symptoms, biopsy is highly recommended to exclude other causes. Case report We report a case of a 17-months-old child affected by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis who underwent a matched unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). She developed severe cGVHD-related polymyositis that was successfully treated with high-dose steroid therapy, rituximab and sirolimus. Conclusions This is the first case of cGVHD-related-polymyositis described in a pediatric patient which was successfully treated with rituximab.
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