title: Autoimmune phenomena in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
abstract: Autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes are commonly encountered in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). A review of case reports and small series suggest as many as 10% of MDS patients may experience various autoimmune syndromes. Clinical manifestations of such phenomena may include an acute systemic vasculitic syndrome, skin vasculitis, fever, arthritis, pulmonary infiltrates, peripheral polyneuropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, glomerulonephritis, and even classical connective tissue disorders, such as relapsing polychondritis. On the other hand, asymptomatic immunologic abnormalities have also been reported in these patients. These autoimmune manifestations frequently respond to immunosuppressive agents including steroids and occasional hematologic responses to steroid therapy have also been reported. We report five patients with history of MDS who manifested different spectrums of autoimmune phenomena including: pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), vasculitis, Coombs negative hemolytic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenia, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). We also review the incidence, nature, course and response to therapy of these manifestations and discuss potential pathogenic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Wallace Tumour Institute, University of Alabama, Room 262-A, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-3300, USA. wasif.saif@ccc.uab.edu
authors.forename: Muhammad Wasif
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Saif
authors.forename: Jon L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015477:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents