title: Staphylococcus protein A-based extracorporeal immunoadsorption and thalidomide in the treatment of skin manifestation of dermatomyositis: a case report.
abstract: Cutaneous involvement in dermatomyositis can be the prevalent component of disease, failing to respond to adequate therapies for myositis. In this case report, we describe a patient affected by dermatomyositis, characterized by prevalent skin involvement, successfully treated with Staphylococcus protein A-based extracorporeal immunoadsorption (Immunosorba, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, Bad Homburg, Germany) and thalidomide. The patient showed panniculitic ulcerative lesions of the skin, difficult to treat because of side effects or ineffectiveness of various therapies. Skin manifestations rapidly improved after introduction of immunoadsorption; The association of thalidomide allowed a good maintenance of these results until the remission of skin lesions, despite several infective complications of some residual ulcers. Considering the difficulties in the management of our patient, combined therapy with Immunosorba and thalidomide has allowed a good clinical response. If confirmed, the observed beneficial effects suggest that protein A-based immunoadsorption and thalidomide can represent an alternative option in dermatomyositis, especially when cutaneous manifestations are predominant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, Modena, Italy. marco.sebastiani@unimore.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puccini
authors.forename: Andreina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colaci
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barachini
authors.forename: Clodoveo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000628:therapy*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D013792:Thalidomide