POLYMYOSITIS ASSOCIATED WITH THYMOMA AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF PURE RED-CELL APLASIA

A 53-year-old woman with polymyositis associated with thymoma subseque ntly developed pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), She was hospitalized beca use of fever and muscle weakness, and diagnosed as having polymyositis by muscle biopsy. Remarkable clinical improvement followed administra tion of prednisolone. Progressive anemia became evident, however, whil e prednisolone was being tapered, Erythroid aplasia and the presence o f thymoma confirmed the diagnosis of PRCA, Further examinations reveal ed that cytotoxic T cells may play an important role in the pathogenes is of this case.