title: Merkel cell carcinoma associated with stable chronic hemodialysis: A report of two cases.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous malignancy associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Multiple studies have shown that the incidence of MCC is higher among immunocompromised individuals than among the general population. In fact, immunosuppressed individuals account for approximately 10% of the MCC patient population. In this report, we describe two cases of MCPyV-related MCC in Japanese patients on hemodialysis. In both the cases, MCC was present on the face. Both cellular and humoral immunities have been shown to be decreased in uremic patients, and dialysis patients have a high risk of viral-mediated cancers, including human papillomavirus-associated cancers. Immune dysfunction related to uremia and dialysis may be associated with a high risk of developing MCC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. kotaro@nagase-skin.com.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tara-Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koba
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Narisawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Merkel cell carcinoma; dialysis; end-stage renal disease; hemodialysis; immunosuppression