Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 103, Issue 11, November 2009, Pages 1719-1724
Respiratory Medicine

Anti-synthetase syndrome in ANA and anti-Jo-1 negative patients presenting with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

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Summary

Objectives

To describe the clinical features of patients presenting with “idiopathic” interstitial pneumonia that were diagnosed with anti-synthetase syndrome based on clinical features and positive anti-PL-7 or PL-12 antibodies.

Methods

Over a 24-month period, we evaluated 37 patients who presented with clinical features of anti-synthetase (AS) syndrome, negative anti-Jo-1 antibodies, and who were assessed for other anti-tRNA synthetase (anti-tRS) antibodies. All data were abstracted from the medical record.

Results

Nine (24%) were confirmed to have non-anti-Jo-1 positive AS syndrome based on clinical features and the presence of other anti-tRS antibodies (seven with anti-PL-7, two with anti-PL-12 antibodies). All presented with dyspnea as the initial symptom and with ILD as the first manifestation. Elevated CPK was identified in three patients but only two had muscle weakness. Pulmonary physiology revealed restriction (forced vital capacity 60% of predicted) and impaired gas transfer (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 40% of predicted). All had similar findings on thoracic HRCT scans, with basilar predominance of abnormalities and patterns suggestive of non-specific interstitial pneumonia and organizing pneumonia. Immunomodulatory therapies were used to treat the ILD—responses were variable, but some subjects clearly improved.

Conclusion

Anti-PL-7 and PL-12 antibodies may be more common among patients presenting with “idiopathic” interstitial pneumonia than formerly considered and should be checked in patients with features of AS syndrome despite a negative screen for anti-nuclear or anti-Jo-1 antibodies. Further research is needed to advance understanding of anti-PL-7 or anti-PL-12-positive AS syndrome, including its prognosis and optimal approaches to therapy.

Keywords

Anti-synthetase syndrome
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia
Anti-JO-1 antibodies

Abbreviations

ANA
anti-nuclear antibody
AS
anti-synthetase syndrome
DM
dermatomyositis
HRCT
high-resolution computed tomography
ILD
interstitial lung disease
PM
polymyositis
RP
Raynaud's phenomenon

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