Myopathy secondary to intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

Neuromuscul Disord. 2009 Dec;19(12):856-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2009.09.003. Epub 2009 Sep 29.

Abstract

We report a case of a 78-year-old woman presenting with progressive proximal muscle weakness mainly to lower limbs and myopathic EMG associated with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. Muscle biopsy showed myopathic changes, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma but no inflammation or fibre necrosis; the patient's serum cross-reacted with an unidentified nuclear antigen of approximately 45 kDa present in muscle and lymphoma cells. Our case illustrates a myopathy associated with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma probably mediated by antibodies cross-reacting with a nuclear protein expressed by neoplastic cells and normal muscle. The nature of this nuclear antigen remains unidentified.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Chemical Analysis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Electromyography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / physiopathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Muscular Diseases / etiology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins