Steroid-responsive inclusion body myositis associated with endometrial cancer

D.T. Alexandrescu¹, N.S. Bhagwati¹, B. Fomberstein², D.E. Wolfe³, A. Feliz⁴, P.H. Wiernik¹

Comprehensive Cancer Center¹, Department of Rheumatology², and Department of Pathology4, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, New York Medical College, Bronx, New York; Department of Pathology³, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

ABSTRACT

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory myopathy. Although the association between other myopathies and cancer has been well established, the relationship between IBM and neoplasia is not completely understood. Unlike polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM), IBM rarely responds to immunosuppressive treatment and the response is seldom long-lasting. We describe a case of IBM associated with endometrial carcinoma that also demonstrated a unique response to steroids alone which persisted despite cancer relapse. The factors that are associated with a response of IBM to steroids are discussed. An atypical, steroid-responsive form of the disease is delineated.

Key words
Inclusion body myositis, endometrial carcinoma, steroids, atypical.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Doru T. Alexandrescu, MD, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, 600 East 233rd Street, Bronx, NY 10466, USA.
E-mail: mddoru@hotmail.com

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23: 93-96.
© CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2005.