RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical evaluation of anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibodies in Japanese patients with dermatomyositis. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1012 OP 1018 VO 34 IS 5 A1 Takashi Matsushita A1 Minoru Hasegawa A1 Manabu Fujimoto A1 Yasuhito Hamaguchi A1 Kazuhiro Komura A1 Takashi Hirano A1 Mayuka Horikawa A1 Miki Kondo A1 Hidemitsu Orito A1 Kenzo Kaji A1 Yuki Saito A1 Yukiyo Matsushita A1 Shigeru Kawara A1 Masahide Yasui A1 Mariko Seishima A1 Shoichi Ozaki A1 Masataka Kuwana A1 Fumihide Ogawa A1 Shinichi Sato A1 Kazuhiko Takehara YR 2007 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/5/1012.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibodies among patients with autoimmune diseases, and to analyze the clinical features of patients with dermatomyositis (DM) with anti-ARS antibodies. METHODS: Serum samples from 315 patients with autoimmune diseases or related disorders who had visited Kanazawa University Hospital or affiliated facilities were assessed for anti-ARS antibodies by immunoprecipitation. In particular, the association between anti-ARS antibodies and clinical features was investigated in detail in patients with DM. RESULTS: Anti-ARS antibody was positive in 16 (29%) of 55 patients with DM, 2 (22%) of 9 patients with polymyositis, and 7 (25%) of 28 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Although anti-ARS antibody was detected with high frequency (63%, 15/24) in DM patients with interstitital lung disease (ILD), the incidence of anti-ARS antibody was very low (3%, 1/31) in DM patients without ILD. Anti-ARS antibody-positive patients with DM had significantly higher incidences of ILD (94% vs 23%) and fever (64% vs 10%) than the antibody-negative patients. Some immunosuppressive agents, in addition to oral corticosteroids, were required more frequently in the antibody-positive patients with DM than the antibody-negative patients (88% vs 26%). Although 60% of DM patients with ILD simultaneously developed ILD and myositis, ILD preceded myositis in 33% of patients. CONCLUSION: Among patients with DM, anti-ARS antibodies are found in a subset with ILD. DM patients with anti-ARS antibodies appear to have a more persistent disease course that requires additional therapy compared to those without anti-ARS antibodies.