title: [Effective treatment of interstitial pneumonia with tacrolimus in a patient with dermatomyositis who was intolerant to cyclosporin-A].
abstract: A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of erythema in the eyelids and fingers of both hands. Slight muscle weakness in the proximal limbs, a heliotrope rash, Gottron's sign, and mechanic's hand were observed. Creatine kinase serum levels were slightly elevated (376U/l), and the patient tested negative for all autoantibodies except for the antinuclear antibody. Chest computed tomography showed interstitial pneumonia (IP). Based on these findings, the patient was given a diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM) associated with IP. Combined prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) and cyclosporin-A (Cy-A 4 mg/kg/day) therapy was initiated; the patient showed marked improvement, but the Cy-A caused liver damage. Therefore, Cy-A was tapered off, and tacrolimus was simultaneously started, initially at a dose of 1 mg/day, building up to a sustained dose of 4 mg/day. The patient's IP and liver condition improved. Tacrolimus is a useful drug for the treatment of DM-IP in cases where Cy-A causes intolerable adverse reactions.
authors.forename: Koko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nuri
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoda
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanafusa
mesh_terms: D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus