RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical Features of Hemophagocytic Syndrome in Patients with Dermatomyositis JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1838 OP 1841 VO 35 IS 9 A1 NOBUYUKI YAJIMA A1 KUNINOBU WAKABAYASHI A1 TSUYOSHI ODAI A1 TAKEO ISOZAKI A1 MIZUHO MATSUNAWA A1 YUSUKE MIWA A1 MASAO NEGISHI A1 HIROTSUGU IDE A1 TSUYOSHI KASAMA YR 2008 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/9/1838.abstract AB Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with dermatomyositis (DM) complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). Methods Twenty-four patients diagnosed with DM and treated at our hospital between January 2002 and April 2007 were enrolled for study. Serum levels of various parameters including cytokines were determined during the active disease states. Results Levels of serum ferritin, creatine kinase, and immune complexes were all significantly higher in all patients with HPS than in those without HPS. Levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, and the chemokine CX3CL1 were significantly elevated in DM patients with HPS. Conclusion Our findings suggest that mechanisms related to both circulating immune complexes and circulating cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of HPS complicating DM.