Anti-PL-7 (anti-threonyl-tRNA synthetase) antisynthetase syndrome: clinical manifestations in a series of patients from a European multicenter study (EUMYONET) and review of the literature

Medicine (Baltimore). 2012 Jul;91(4):206-211. doi: 10.1097/MD.0b013e318260977c.

Abstract

Autoantibodies against several aminoacyl-transfer-RNA synthetases have been described in patients with myositis; anti-threonyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-PL-7) is one of the rarest. We describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of a cohort of European anti-PL-7 patients, and compare them with previously reported cases. This multicenter study of patients positive for anti-PL-7, identified between 1984 and 2011, derives from the EUMYONET cohort. Clinical and serologic data were obtained by retrospective laboratory and medical record review, and statistical analyses were performed with chi-squared and Fisher exact tests. Eighteen patients, 15 women, were anti-PL-7 antibody positive. Median follow-up was 5.25 years (interquartile range, 2.8-10.7 yr), and 4 patients died. All patients had myositis (12 polymyositis, 5 dermatomyositis, and 1 amyopathic dermatomyositis), 10 (55.6%) had interstitial lung disease, and 9 (50%) had pericardial effusion. Occupational exposure to organic/inorganic particles was more frequent in patients with interstitial lung disease than in the remaining patients (5 of 10 vs. 1 of 7; p = 0.152), although the difference was not significant. Concurrent autoantibodies against Ro60 and Ro52 were seen in 8 of 14 (57%) patients studied. In the literature review the most common manifestations of anti-PL-7 antisynthetase syndrome were interstitial lung disease (77%), myositis (75%), and arthritis (56%). As in other subsets of the antisynthetase syndrome, myositis and interstitial lung disease are common features of the anti-PL-7 antisynthetase syndrome. In addition, we can add pericarditis as a possible manifestation related to anti-PL-7 antibodies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / analysis
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Dermatomyositis / epidemiology
  • Dermatomyositis / immunology
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myositis / diagnosis*
  • Myositis / epidemiology
  • Myositis / immunology*
  • Myositis / therapy
  • Polymyositis / epidemiology
  • Polymyositis / immunology
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase / immunology*
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase / metabolism
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase

Supplementary concepts

  • Antisynthetase syndrome