title: Dermatomyositis with peripheral nervous system involvement: activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) in vasculitic lesions.
abstract: We describe two cases of dermatomyositis (DM) with nervous system involvement. Polyneuropathy was observed in both patients, and cerebral vasculitis was suspected in one patient. Histological examination of biopsied specimens of skeletal muscles, skin and sural nerves revealed vasculitis. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) were overexpressed in vasculitic lesions. Although, VEGF and VEGFRs were not detected in biopsied specimens of skeletal muscle from normal subjects, they were observed in one of two patients with DM who did not exhibit neuropathy. These findings suggest the possibility that VEGF overproduction is associated with development of vasculitis in some cases of DM complicated with peripheral neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokushima University, Tokushima.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: Itsuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunishige
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor