title: Dermatomyositis associated with lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells and occult small cell lung carcinoma.
abstract: We report a case of dermatomyositis that was associated with a marked expansion of circulating NK cells (CD3-CD16+) with homogeneous phenotype (CD56- CD94- CD159a- CD244+) which satisfied the updated diagnostic criteria for the lymphoproliferative disorder of granular lymphocytes/NK cells. Immunosuppressive treatment induced remission of the dermatomyositis and decreased the number of circulating NK cells. However, a small cell lung carcinoma, that was occult at the time of the presentation of dermatomyositis, was diagnosed 10 months thereafter.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antonioli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Airò
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male