Polymyositis - an unusual manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease

Polymyositis is a rare autoimmune manifestation of chronic graft-versus-hos t disease (GVHD) characterized by muscle pain, weakness, and an increase in muscle-related enzymes that responds well to treatment with immunosuppress ive agents such as steroids and cyclosporine. We describe a case in which p olymyositis was the main manifestation of chronic GVHD that occurred 12 mon ths after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a patient with acute ly mphocytic leukemia (ALL). The polymyositis responded well to treatment with steroids and cyclosporine, with no relapse of symptoms on tapering of the medication.