Background: Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Myopathy is a rare neuromuscular sign of chronic GVHD, with an incidence of less than 4% in all patients. The data are heterogeneous, and no standard criteria exists for diagnosis or treatment.
Case report: We present the case of an 18-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who developed myopathy associated with GVHD 19 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. The patient had a previous history of acute cutaneous and chronic hepatic GVHD. At the time of symptom onset, the immunosuppressive drugs were tapered. He developed with sudden symmetrical proximal muscle weakness that prevented him from walking. Diagnosis was confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, muscle enzymes, and muscle biopsy results. He initially responded to immunosuppressive therapy but relapsed after quick tapering of prednisone, requiring a prolonged course of steroids and an additional dose of immune globulin intravenous. At the moment of the publication, the patient has 9 months free from GVHD relapse.
Conclusions: GVHD-associated myopathy is a rare complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant and must be suspected in patients with sudden proximal muscle weakness and moderate pain. Diagnosis is challenging and must include magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, muscle enzymes, and muscle biopsy results. Usually, all patients respond adequately to immunosuppression.
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