TY - JOUR T1 - Anti-tRNA Synthetase-specific Immunofluorescence Patterns are Easily Detected in the Suitable Substrate JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1564 LP - 1565 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.170414 VL - 44 IS - 10 AU - LA-HE JEARN AU - THINK-YOU KIM Y1 - 2017/10/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/44/10/1564.2.abstract N2 - To the Editor:We read with interest the article by Aggarwal, et al1. We agree with the authors when they evoke the importance of cytoplasmic staining for early diagnosis of myositis while refraining from reporting an “antinuclear antibody (ANA)–negative result.” However, we disagree with reporting it as a generic concept without its specific description, because as noted by the authors, cytoplasmic staining preserves various patterns, and we should mind the possible diffusion of SS-A/Ro into the cytoplasm during the fixation process of HEp-2 substrate.Besides the number of pattern types and the diversity of target antigens, the frequency with which they are experienced in laboratories should be considered as another important factor. Under the real circumstance of cytoplasmic staining on HEp-2 cells, we usually encounter anti-Ro, which has intensely higher incidence than anti-tRNA synthetase. We have also frequently observed antimitochondrial antibodies. Moreover, even other patterns, the clinical significance of which is still less known, are … Address correspondence to Dr. T.Y. Kim, Department of Diagnostic Immunology/Laboratory Medicine, Hanyang University Medical Center, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea. E-mail: tykim{at}hanyang.ac.kr ER -