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Objectives: To describe the demographics and phenotypes of malignancies-associated dermatomyositis (MADM) in east China and pinpoint potential factors indicative of malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis and establish a predictive model. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 134 patients with adult-onset dermatomyositis hospitalized between January 2019 and May 2022 in one comprehensive hospital. Clinical data including disease course, initial symptoms and signs, and demographic information were retrieved from the Electronic Medical Records System. Other parameters including myositis-specific autoantibodies profiles, ferritin, sedimentation, etc. were all referable. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was employed to simulate a model to predict cancer risks. Receiver operating characteristic curve was adopted to evaluate the potency of the model. Results: 134 patients with adult-onset dermatomyositis were aptly enrolled in this study based on inclusive and exclusive criteria: 12 (8.96%) with malignancies, 57 (42.53%) with aberrant tumor biomarkers but no malignancies, 65 (48.51%) with neither malignancies nor abnormal tumor biomarkers. Senior diagnostic age, higher LDH, higher ferritin, positive anti-TIF1γ and anti-Mi2 rather than anti-NXP2 autoantibodies were positive indicators of malignancies. Additionally, neither initial complaints nor signs were found to be correlated to a tendency towards malignancies. Digestive system, nasopharyngeal, and lung malignancies were mostly documented in east China. One multivariable multinomial logistic regression model was established to predict the phenotypes of dermatomyositis on the basis of potential malignancies and the overall sensitivity and specificity was satisfactory. Conclusion: Positivity of anti-TIF1γ and anti-Mi2 autoantibodies are highly indicative of malignancies while the role of anti-NXP2 autoantibody in MADM in the Chinese population remains unclear. The phenotypes of malignancies can be predicted through the model and the predictive power is sufficient. More attention should be paid to malignancies screening in patients with aberrant tumor biomarkers but no malignancies, particularly digestive system, nasopharyngeal, and lung malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis but without malignancies.
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Introduction: To date, there is no standard treatment for Morbihan disease. Several studies have reported that Morbihan disease responds well to systemic corticosteroids (prednisone and prednisolone), systemic antibiotics (tetracyclines), antihistamines (ketotifen) and surgical therapy (Lymphaticovenous anastomosis). To our knowledge, Tofacitinib, as a Janus-activated kinase (JAK) inhibitor, plays a vital role in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, Tofacitinib may be a promising medical option for patients with Morbihan disease. Case Presentation: The first case involves a 43-year-old Chinese man who presented a 12-month history of progressive painless swelling of the left upper eyelid. According to the skin biopsy, perivascular dermal edema with dilatation of lymphatic vessels and telangiectasia was observed, accompanied by mixed lymphocyte infiltrate, including histiocytes, plasma cells, and a few eosinophils. The second case involves a Chinese female patient who presented a 2-year history of progressive left-sided facial edema, which was eventually diagnosed as Morbihan disease. The skin biopsy revealed lymphocyte infiltration in the superficial vessels of dermis and some accessories. Based on patients' clinical presentation, skin biopsy results, and exclusion of differential diagnoses such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), they were diagnosed with Morbihan disease. They were both treated with Tofacitinib (5mg, po twice daily). Outcomes: Patient 1 underwent a trial of Tofacitinib at a dosage of 5 mg twice daily for one month, with notable improvement. His edema and erythema present on the left face were alleviated. Patient 1 reduced the dosage of Tofacitinib by half (5mg, once daily) and continued using it for 5 months. During the 6-month follow-up, the facial erythema in the patient subsided, and there was a noticeable improvement in the swelling of the left eyelid compared to before. Patient 2, her lesions gradually improved after one-week treatment. She received a one-month treatment of Tofacitinib, and during the subsequent six-month follow-up, there was no evidence of eruption recurrence. Conclusion: We present the first cases of two patients receiving short-term Tofacitinib as therapy for Morbihan disease and retrieving huge succession. Tofacitinib may be a promising oral alternative for patients with Morbihan disease. However, its safety and efficacy require further assessment through clinical trials.