Dermatomiositis and Evans syndrome associated with HTLV-1 infection

Abstract

A 55-year-old female patient, born in Ayacucho, with a history of dermatomyositis for 3 years, who received irregular treatment with prednisone. Two months prior to admission, she presented with autoinmune hemolytic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The patient received methylprednisolone pulse therapy and packed red blood cells transfusions. Upon admission, she was drowsy, with a poor overall status, marked weight loss, dehydration, with presence of livedo reticularis in her lower extremities, and onychodystrophy and onycholysis on the toes of both feet. Western blot test was positive for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The patient evolved with recurrent hypoglycemia. Therefore, we report a case of dermatomyositis and Evans syndrome in the context of an HTLV-1 infection.