A case of polymyositis concomitant with primary biliary cirrhosis simultaneously

Abstract

A 54-year-old woman experienced continuous proximal muscle weakness in both legs 2 months before. Her laboratory findings showed remarkably high levels of serum creatine kinase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high-intensity signal area at the vastus medialis muscle. Muscle biopsy findings revealed mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration in endomysial connective tissue. On ultrasonography, we observed fibrosis change in the liver parenchyma. Histological examination of the liver revealed chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. We diagnosed the patient with polymyositis concurrent with primary biliary cirrhosis. Immediately after the patient was administered prednisolone and ursodeoxycholic acid, her muscle weakness and clinical data improved. Only a few previous studies have reported cases of polymyositis concurrent with primary biliary cirrhosis. Therefore, we believe that our study is unique and particularly useful for further study of autoimmune liver diseases.