Cytomegalovirus infection complicating immunosuppressive therapy for dermatomyositis.

Abstract

The occurrence of opportunistic infections is not rare during the treatment of connective tissue diseases, including dermatomyositis because of the patient's immunosuppression. We describe here cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that affected two of our patients with dermatomyositis. CMV infection has not been considered to be a frequent event in dermatomyositis, and its significance for disease progression has not been sufficiently recognized. Our case reports demonstrate the importance of close monitoring of such patients and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy to manage a suspected CMV infection.

• Authors: Akira Hashimoto, Ryuhei Okuyama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Hachiro Tagami, Setsuya Aiba
• Journal: Acta dermato-venereologica (Acta Derm Venereol) Vol. 86 Issue 6 Pg. 535-7 ( 2006) ISSN: 0001-5555 [Print] Sweden
• PMID: 17106602 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Glucocorticoids
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Cyclophosphamide
• Prednisolone
• Ganciclovir

Topics

• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cyclophosphamide (therapeutic use)
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Dermatomyositis (complications, drug therapy)
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Ganciclovir (therapeutic use)
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunocompetence
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Opportunistic Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Prednisolone (therapeutic use)