Hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis complicated with dermatomyositis: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Twenty percent of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) develop extrahepatic manifestations with HBV detected in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, and skin. HBV infection has been associated with some autoimmune disorders. Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, which involves a viral infection, and DM has been identified in patients infected with HBV, but there is no direct histological evidence for an association between HBV and DM.

CASE SUMMARY

We describe a familial HBV-infected patient admitted with liver function abnormality, rashes, a movement disorder, and an elevated level of creatine kinase (CK). A computed tomography scan of the lung showed pulmonary fibrosis, and a liver biopsy identified nodular cirrhosis. An electromyogram revealed myogenic damage, and a muscle biopsy showed nuclear migration in local sarcolemma and infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed negative results for HBsAg and HBcAg. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed a negative result for HBV DNA. The patient was diagnosed with HBV-related liver cirrhosis complicated with DM and was treated with methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and lamivudine. Eight months later, the patient was readmitted for anorexia and fatigue. The blood examination showed elevated levels of aminotransferases and HBV DNA, however, the CK level was within the normal range. The patient developed a virological breakthrough and lamivudine was replaced with tenofovir.

CONCLUSION

DM in chronic HBV-infected patients does not always associate with HBV. Antiviral and immunosuppressive drugs should be taken into consideration.

Core tip: We report a patient diagnosed with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis complicated with dermatomyositis (DM). However, HBV was not detected in his muscle sample, thus we concluded that his DM did not associate with his HBV infection. Diagnosis of DM on the basis of HBV infection is relatively uncommon. Diagnosis and treatment are difficult due to the complex relationship between these diseases and their conflicting treatment strategies. By providing our experience in diagnosing and treating DM with HBV, we hope to assist with similar cases and to stimulate further research on the relationship between DM and HBV.

INTRODUCTION

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with typical rashes yet little is known about the etiology of DM. DM is accepted widely as an auto-immune disease induced by infectious and noninfectious environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals[1-4]. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem with up to two billion people with pre-existing and current HBV infections[5], HBV was detected in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, and skin[6] and 20% of patients infected with HBV develop extrahepatic manifestations, such as polyarteritis nodosa, polymyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and glomerulonephritis[7,8]. One DM case as the consequence of HBV infection has been reported[9], but DM does not always associate with hepatitis. Here, we report a case of HBV-related liver cirrhosis complicated with DM.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 46-year-old man presented with rashes and a movement disorder.

History of present illness

The patient has been HBsAg-positive for 15 years and has had moderate fatigue and elevated aminotransferases for four years, he was not treated. Facial and peripheral rashes were present for four months with no definitive cause. The patient suffered from simultaneous muscle soreness for half a month, which did not draw his attention until he could not move his extremities.

History of past illness

The patient reported no known systemic illness.

Personal and family history

The patient’s mother, brother, and grandfather had chronic HBV infections.

Physical examination upon admission

On physical examination, the patient’s pharynx was congested. Purple-red edematous maculae were on the patient’s forehead and the malar areas around on his orbits. The peripheral skin was also involved sporadically, and telangiectasia was observed on the anterior chest wall. The abdominal examination was normal. A neurologic examination indicated muscle strength of 3/5 and limb muscle pain was positive.

Laboratory examinations

The blood examination showed increased levels of creatine kinase (CK, 11889 U/L), C-reactive protein (32.4 mg/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, 280 U/L), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 242 U/L). The tests for HBsAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb were positive, and the tests for anti-HIV, anti-HCV, anti-EBV IgM, anti-cytomegalovirus IgM and HCV RNA were negative. HBV DNA was undetectable (< 50 IU/mL). Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were within normal range. Tests for the autoantibodies anti-PM-Scl and anti-Jo-1 were negative, and the test for anti-Ro-52 was positive. With regards to antinuclear antibodies, the membranous pattern was 1:1000 and the particle type cytoplasm was 1:100. The test for anti-M2 was negative. The indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min was 11.7% and a FibroScan revealed a stiffness value of 21.3 kPa. A liver biopsy showed nodular cirrhosis with extensive lymphocytes and few plasmocytes infiltrating the fibrous septa (Figure 1A).

Figure 1.

Histopathologic manifestations. A: A hematoxylin-eosin stained liver biopsy (200× magnification) showed nodular cirrhosis with extensive lymphocytes and few plasmocytes infiltrating fibrous septa (black arrow); B: A hematoxylin-eosin stained muscle biopsy (400× magnification) showed nuclear migration in local sarcolemma (black arrow) and infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells (white arrow).

Imaging examinations

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen revealed hepatic cirrhosis and mild splenomegaly. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung showed streaky opacities in the right middle lobe, right lower lobe, and ligula.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with hepatitis B cirrhosis, liver function compensation, and preliminary pneumonia or pulmonary fibrosis. Upon admission, the patient accepted antibiotic (ceftezole), hepatoprotective, and supportive treatment. Nine days after admission, the patient developed dysphagia, dyspnea, and incontinence, and an electromyogram (EMG) revealed myogenic damage. A muscle biopsy showed nuclear migration in local sarcolemma and infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells (Figure 1B). Immunohistochemical staining showed negative results for HBsAg and HBcAg. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed a negative result for HBV DNA. The streaky opacities in the lungs were more severe. The patient was finally diagnosed with HBV-related liver cirrhosis complicated with DM and pulmonary fibrosis.

TREATMENT

The patient was treated with 80 mg/d of methylprednisolone instead of antibiotics. Lamivudine was given at a dose of 100 mg/d to prevent virus replication. Additional treatments were supportive and symptomatic. After seven days of steroid treatment, the dysphagia, dyspnea, and incontinence improved and the CK level was 4791 U/L. After seventeen days of steroid treatment, the CK level was 5710 U/L leading to administration of 750 mg of mycophenolate mofetil twice a day. After a week, the patient’s eating and sleeping improved, micturition and defecation were normal, and the patient’s facial and peripheral rashes faded. The patient’s AST level was 166 U/L, ALT level was 290 U/L, and CK level was 4581 U/L. The streaky opacities did not change. The patient was prescribed 40 mg of methylprednisolone, 1500 mg of mycophenolate mofetil, and 100 mg of lamivudine per day for another three months after discharge.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

Upon discharge, the patient did not feel uncomfortable. The patient’s amino-transferase and CK levels were in the normal range during the three months after discharge, and there were no more streaky opacities in the lungs. The mycophenolate mofetil treatment was stopped after another six months, but one week after stopping this immunosuppressive drug, the patient was readmitted for anorexia and fatigue. The blood examination showed increased levels of HBV DNA (5.05 × 10⁵ IU/L) and AST (840 U/L), but the CK level was normal (53 U/L) (Figure 2A, B). The frequency of the L180M mutation in HBV is 51.8%, and the frequency of the M204V mutation in HBV is 78.2%. In this patient, HBV reactivation followed lamivudine drug resistance that arose due to long-term lamivudine treatment along with long-term immunosuppressive therapy. To reduce HBV replication, the patient was given 300 mg of tenofovir per day. One month later, the patient’s aminotransferase levels returned to normal and his HBV DNA levels fell to a level below detection (Figure 2B). The patient was prescribed tenofovir as a long-term antiviral therapy, his aminotransferase and CK levels remained normal at the subsequent five-year follow-up (Figure 2A, B), and he was able to perform moderate-intensity physical activities.

Figure 2.

Laboratory examination results during patient follow-up. A: Serum creatine kinase levels during the 18-mo follow-up. After the patient’s symptoms improved and he underwent biochemical remission, the methylprednisolone treatment was tapered at a rate of 10% per week until the dose reached 4 mg per day. The patient was on the 4 mg per day dose until one year. The mycophenolate mofetil dose remained at 750 mg twice a day for nine months; B: Changes in transaminase (Alanine transaminase; aspartate transminase) and hepatis B virus desoxyribonucleic acid levels during antiviral therapy. ULN: Upper limit of normal for transaminases; ALT: Alanine transaminase; AST: Aspartate Transminase; CK: Creatine kinase; HBV DNA: Hepatis B virus desoxyribonucleic acid.

DISCUSSION

The presentations of DM are proximal weakness, elevated CK, myopathic EMG, inflammatory pathology, and typical rashes. The characteristic rashes include periorbital violaceous erythema, Gottron’s sign, periungual telangiectasia, mechanic’s hands, and other mucocutaneous lesions. In addition, DM can affect the lung (interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and pleurisy) and the alimentary tract (the pharynx and the striated muscle at the lower end of the esophagus)[10]. The patient in this study fully met the diagnostic criteria for DM[1]. The patient’s lung and pharyngeal muscle were affected.

The etiology and pathogenesis of DM are uncertain, and DM is generally recognized as an autoimmune disorder induced by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals[1]. Tests for autoantibodies in DM patients are usually partial positive. Tests for anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, such as anti-Jo1, and anti-Mi autoantibodies, which associate with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), may be positive in DM patients. HCV may cross-react with the host to produce specific autoantibodies that result in DM[11]. However, we can exclude the possibility of HCV-related DM in this patient based on the lack of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in his serum.

Distinct from the mechanism of HCV-related DM, approximately 20% of HBV-infected patients develop extrahepatic disorders, including glomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, arthritis, and polymyositis through HBV-related immune complex circulation and deposition. In 2005, Mason A reported a case of HBV-related polymyositis in which HBV immune complex deposition and HBV DNA replication were detected in the interstitial vascular endothelium of diseased muscle tissues[8]. We summarized ten hepatitis virus infection and DM cases since 2000 (Table 1, Table 2), and found that HBV production was absent in the skeletal muscle samples of these patients. Most of these patients were diagnosed with DM associated with hepatoce-llular carcinoma (HCC). In these patients with HCC, paraneoplastic syndrome, a compromised immune system, common carcinogenic environmental factors, and cross-reactive immune reactions against the tumor may have played a role in disease development. Cross-reactions with cutaneous and muscular antigens may have led to the autoimmune syndrome[12-14]. DM improved after cancer resection but recurred upon relapse of the cancer demonstrating that paraneoplastic syndrome plays an important role in HCC-related DM[14]. However, the effect of HBV infection on HCC-related DM has not yet been proven. Recently, Han et al[9] reported a case of DM associated with HCC in which steroid treatment had limited effect, but antiviral therapy improved muscle strength, thus Han hypothesized that DM developed as a consequence of HBV infection. Muscle biopsy evidence remains to be obtained to confirm the association between HBV and DM.

Table 1.

A case review of dermatomyositis complicated with hepatitis virus infection since 2000

Ref.	Published yr	Age / Sex	Virus infection	Associated disorders	Autoantibody profile	Treatment	Outcome
Nakamura et al[18]	2000	60/F	HCV	Left ventricular dysfunction	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-)	Interferon-α, Steroid	ND
Germany et al[19]	2002	40/F	HCV	Collagenous colitis	ANA(+), RF(-).	Azathioprine	Improved
Altman et al[20]	2008	6/F	HBV vaccine	-	ND	ND	ND
Our case		46/M	HBV	Pulmonary fibrosis	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-), Anti-Mi2(-)	Steroid, Mycophenolate mofetil, Tenofovir	Stable

ND: Not described; F: Female; M: Male; ANA: Antinuclear antibody; RF: Rheumatoid factor; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus.

Table 2.

A case reviews of dermatomyositis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma since 2000

Ref.	Published yr	Age / Sex	Virus infection	Associated disorders	Autoantibody profile	Treatment	Outcome
Cheng et al[21]	2002	50/F	HBV	Erythrocytosis	ND	Steroid, TACE, Hepatectomy	Died
Inuzuka et al[22]	2001	51/M	HCV	Acquired ichthyosis	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-)	Steroid	Died
Kee et al[11]	2004	71/M	HCV	-	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-)	Steroid	ND
Toshikuni et al[23]	2006	79/F	HCV	-	ANA(+), RF(-), Anti-Jo-1 (-)	Steroid, TACE	Died
Kee et al[13]	2009	58/M	HBV	-	ANA(+), RF(-), Anti-Jo-1 (-)	Steroid, IVIG, TACE	Died
Yang et al[14]	2014	55/M	HBV	-	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-)	Lamivudine, Steroid	Died
Han et al[9]	2018	62/M	HBV	-	ANA(+), Anti-Jo-1(-), Anti-Mi2(-)	Steroid, Entecavir, Radio- frequency ablation	Died

ND: Not described; F: Female; M: Male; ANA: Antinuclear antibody; RF: Rheumatoid factor; TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; IVIG: Intravenous immunoglobulin; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus.

Upon initial admission, our patient presented AFP within normal range in serum and MRI without mass lesion in liver, we excluded the possibility of HCC-associated DM in this study. The level of HBV DNA in our patient was below detection, and HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBV DNA were not found in diseased muscle tissues suggesting no HBV immune complex deposition or HBV DNA replication. The patient’s tests for anti-Ro-52 and anti-antinuclear antibodies were positive. The patient responded well to treatment with methylprednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil. Nevertheless, the immunosuppressive therapy reactivated the HBV and HBV-related liver cirrhosis symptoms recurred, but the DM symptoms did not recur. The patient did not meet the diagnosis criteria for HBV-related DM as described above. In this case, the DM occurred independently of the HBV infection.

Although patients have been reported that their symptoms improved after tumor controlling, antiviral, and immunosuppressive therapies, long-term follow-up information is lacking. In this case, lamivudine was not able to prevent HBV reactivation caused by immunosuppressive agents, which contributed to lamivudine resistance and recurrence of HBV-related liver cirrhosis. The patient was stabilized after changing the treatment from lamivudine to tenofovir. Lamivudine is the first nucleoside analogue used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infections and it is widely used because of its low price and minimal side effects, but high rates of resistance with long-term lamivudine monotherapy have been observed. The incidence of HBV resistance to lamivudine in nucleoside-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B is 24% after one year of treatment and 70% after five years of treatment[15]. Thirty-three percent of patients who were treated with lamivudine for five years and who had a virological response showed virological breakthrough after 15 mo of treatment with a median dose. Lamivudine resistant mutations occurred in 97.4% of the breakthrough patients[16]. According to recent expert recommendations for antiviral therapy based on the risk of HBV recurrence, in this HBV-related cirrhosis patient, an HBsAg-positive result, and methylprednisolone combined with mycophenolate mofetil treatment are both high-risk factors that contribute to HBV recurrence. Thus, efficacious treatment with an antiviral with a low resistance rate, such as tenofovir or entecavir, should be considered[17].

CONCLUSION

Not all DM cases based on chronic HBV infections are associated with HBV. Therefore, when HBV coexists with DM, it is necessary to define HBV-related DM, strictly evaluate the risk factors for HBV recurrence, and use antiviral drugs and immunosuppressive agents reasonably to control DM and HBV.