title: [Prevalence of cancer in the Afro-Caribbean population presenting dermatomyositis and anti-synthetase syndrome: a preliminary study conducted at Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital, 2000-2012].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An association with cancer is described in 17-32% of cases of dermatomyositis (DM) and in 5-16% of cases of anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS). The literature contains very few studies involving Afro-Caribbean patients with DM or ASS. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of cancer in a series of patients with DM or ASS at the University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2012. The secondary objective was to review the clinical and laboratory features as well as the course of DM/ASS in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inclusion criteria were as follows: Afro-Caribbean origin; age >15 years; patient living in Guadeloupe; screening for malignancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients were included (15 DM, 7 ASS). Only one case of cancer was diagnosed in the entire study population at a mean follow-up of 6 ± 4 years (prevalence: 6.7%, CI95% [1.7-31.9]). Of the 15 patients presenting DM (sex ratio F/M: 4, mean age: 45 ± 14 years), 6 (40%) had associated connective tissue disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests a weak association between DM and cancer in Afro-Caribbean patients. These results may be explained by the features of the disease seen in these patients (female gender, young age at onset, associated connective tissue disease) and the low prevalence in the Caribbean region of cancers typically associated with DM.
authors.affiliation: UF dermatologie-médecine interne, centre hospitalier universitaire, route de Chauvel, BP 465, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe.
authors.forename: A-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tersiguel
authors.affiliation: UF dermatologie-médecine interne, centre hospitalier universitaire, route de Chauvel, BP 465, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longueville
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie et d'immunologie, pôle de biologie, centre hospitalier universitaire, route de Chauvel, BP 465, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beltan
authors.affiliation: Département d'immunologie, hôpital Saint-Éloi, CHU de Montpellier, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Centre d'investigation clinique Antilles-Guyane, Inserm/DGOS CIC 1424, centre hospitalier universitaire, route de Chauvel, BP 465, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tressières
authors.affiliation: UF dermatologie-médecine interne, centre hospitalier universitaire, route de Chauvel, BP 465, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe. Electronic address: nadege.cordel@chu-guadeloupe.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cordel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D019430:Guadeloupe / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Afro-Caribbean; Afro-Caribéen; Anti-synthetase syndrome; Antilles; Cancer; Caribbean; Dermatomyosite; Dermatomyositis; Syndrome des anti-synthétases