Case report: myositis in a patient with LGL leukemia

We describe the case of a 58-years old patient with subacute progressive weakness in both legs accompanied by recurrent opportunistic infections. White cell count was normal but immunophenotyping revealed elevated CD8+ T cell numbers in the periphery with a deficiency of NK cells, B cells and CD4+ T cells. Large granular leukocyte (LGL) leukemia was diagnosed based on a clonal T-cell receptor rearrangement. Muscle biopsy demonstrated most probably severe polymyositis with extensive CD8+ T cell infiltrates. Immunosuppressive treatment resulted in clinical improvement and normalization of creatine kinase (CK) seru…