A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment

Samer Hassan, Muhammad Popalzai, Edward Yu, Monika Wrzolek, Marcel OdaimiStaten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, NY, USAAbstract: The prevalence of paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome in cancer is 0.01%. Neurological syndromes can be seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and...

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Main Authors: Hassan S, Popalzai M, Yu E, Wrzolek M, Odaimi M
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2012-07-01
Series:International Journal of General Medicine
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/a-61-year-old-man-presented-with-myopathy-neuropathy-and-inflammatory--a10576
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author Hassan S
Popalzai M
Yu E
Wrzolek M
Odaimi M
author_facet Hassan S
Popalzai M
Yu E
Wrzolek M
Odaimi M
author_sort Hassan S
collection DOAJ
description Samer Hassan, Muhammad Popalzai, Edward Yu, Monika Wrzolek, Marcel OdaimiStaten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, NY, USAAbstract: The prevalence of paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome in cancer is 0.01%. Neurological syndromes can be seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mostly present as either leukemic infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS) or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of combined sensory-motor neuropathy, myopathy, and dermatitis in a patient with CLL.Case presentation: A 61-year-old African American man presented with acute dysphagia, rapidly progressive proximal limb-girdle weakness, and dermatitis. He had a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,600/mm3, hemoglobin of 11.4 mg/dL, and a platelet count of 165,000/mm3. Lymphocytes comprised 15% of the total WBC with an absolute lymphocyte count of 2100/mm3. Metabolic profile was unremarkable except for a serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level of 1056 mg/dL. Serum protein electrophoresis, serologic studies for autoimmune, genetic diseases, and paraneoplastic syndromes were all negative. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed sensorimotor neuropathy with mixed axonal and demyelinating features. Muscle biopsy revealed discrete areas of interstitial fibrosis juxtaposed to areas of intact muscle without any inflammation. At that point, a bone marrow biopsy was done because of anemia and slightly elevated mean corpuscular volume of 103. Bone marrow biopsy revealed minimal involvement with CD5/CD19-positive CLL. Flow cytometry demonstrated monoclonal CD5/CD19/CD20/CD23-positive cells, with dim kappa expression, and negative FMC-7 and CD3. This case doesn’t meet the criteria for CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma. However, considering the possibility of paraneoplastic phenomenon for his symptoms, it was decided to start the patient on CLL-directed therapy with Rituximab and Cyclophosphamide. After only two cycles, the patient experienced a dramatic improvement in his muscle strength with disappearance of the rash.Conclusion: This case highlights a unique clinical picture of inflammatory dermatitis with electromyography and biopsy findings suggestive of myopathy and combined sensorimotor neuropathy with response to CLL-directed therapy. Also the symptoms started before peripheral lymphocytosis which masked the diagnosis for over a year.Keywords: Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia, paraneoplastic syndrome, sensory-motor neuropathy, myopathy, dermatitis.
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spelling doaj.art-f37c3bcf023c4ab1a39eb35e856b954f2022-12-22T03:40:44ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742012-07-012012default647653A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatmentHassan SPopalzai MYu EWrzolek MOdaimi MSamer Hassan, Muhammad Popalzai, Edward Yu, Monika Wrzolek, Marcel OdaimiStaten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, NY, USAAbstract: The prevalence of paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome in cancer is 0.01%. Neurological syndromes can be seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mostly present as either leukemic infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS) or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of combined sensory-motor neuropathy, myopathy, and dermatitis in a patient with CLL.Case presentation: A 61-year-old African American man presented with acute dysphagia, rapidly progressive proximal limb-girdle weakness, and dermatitis. He had a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,600/mm3, hemoglobin of 11.4 mg/dL, and a platelet count of 165,000/mm3. Lymphocytes comprised 15% of the total WBC with an absolute lymphocyte count of 2100/mm3. Metabolic profile was unremarkable except for a serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level of 1056 mg/dL. Serum protein electrophoresis, serologic studies for autoimmune, genetic diseases, and paraneoplastic syndromes were all negative. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed sensorimotor neuropathy with mixed axonal and demyelinating features. Muscle biopsy revealed discrete areas of interstitial fibrosis juxtaposed to areas of intact muscle without any inflammation. At that point, a bone marrow biopsy was done because of anemia and slightly elevated mean corpuscular volume of 103. Bone marrow biopsy revealed minimal involvement with CD5/CD19-positive CLL. Flow cytometry demonstrated monoclonal CD5/CD19/CD20/CD23-positive cells, with dim kappa expression, and negative FMC-7 and CD3. This case doesn’t meet the criteria for CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma. However, considering the possibility of paraneoplastic phenomenon for his symptoms, it was decided to start the patient on CLL-directed therapy with Rituximab and Cyclophosphamide. After only two cycles, the patient experienced a dramatic improvement in his muscle strength with disappearance of the rash.Conclusion: This case highlights a unique clinical picture of inflammatory dermatitis with electromyography and biopsy findings suggestive of myopathy and combined sensorimotor neuropathy with response to CLL-directed therapy. Also the symptoms started before peripheral lymphocytosis which masked the diagnosis for over a year.Keywords: Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia, paraneoplastic syndrome, sensory-motor neuropathy, myopathy, dermatitis.http://www.dovepress.com/a-61-year-old-man-presented-with-myopathy-neuropathy-and-inflammatory--a10576
spellingShingle Hassan S
Popalzai M
Yu E
Wrzolek M
Odaimi M
A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
International Journal of General Medicine
title A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
title_full A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
title_fullStr A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
title_full_unstemmed A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
title_short A 61-year-old man presented with myopathy, neuropathy, and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
title_sort 61 year old man presented with myopathy neuropathy and inflammatory dermatitis responsive to chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment
url http://www.dovepress.com/a-61-year-old-man-presented-with-myopathy-neuropathy-and-inflammatory--a10576
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