Anti-Jo-1 antibody positive polymyositis--successful therapy with leflunomide

Autoimmunity. 2006 May;39(3):261-4. doi: 10.1080/08916930600623874.

Abstract

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IM), including dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM), are a group of systemic rheumatologic diseases of unknown etiology characterized by chronic myositis. Antisynthetase antibodies such as the anti-Jo-1 antibody are known to be highly specific for inflammatory myopathies. Patients with this antibody frequently show a combination of symptoms including interstitial lung disease, fever, polyarthritis, myositis, Raynaud's phenomenon and "mechanic's hands". In the management of PM with anti-Jo-1 antibody, immunosuppressive agents are used to control the disease. Leflunomide is a new immunosuppressive drug recently introduced in the treatment of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Here, we report two cases of female patients with PM and anti-Jo-1 antibodies, who were successfully treated with leflunomide.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / immunology*
  • Arthritis
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Azathioprine / administration & dosage
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Isoxazoles / administration & dosage
  • Isoxazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Leflunomide
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymyositis / drug therapy*
  • Polymyositis / immunology
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Isoxazoles
  • Jo-1 antibody
  • Prednisolone
  • Leflunomide
  • Azathioprine