A CASE OF THE ANTI-JO-1 ANTIBODY SYNDROME WITH INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA AND ARTHRITIS BUT WITHOUT MYOSITIS

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 109 - 113
• Main Authors: KADOMATSU, Satoshi, KURAMOCHI, Shigeru, AKIYA, Kumiko, NISHIKAI, Masahiko, ONAKA, Akio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 20.02.2002
• Subjects: anti-Jo-1 antibody syndrome; anti-synthetase syndrome; arthritis; interstitial pneumonia; polymyositis
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.56.109

A 51-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with dyspnea on exertion and arthralgia. He had been diagnosed tentatively as having early rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial pneumonia (IP). In further laboratory tests anti-Jo-1 antibody was detected prompting us to search for associated myositis. However, muscle strength, serum creatine kinase concentration, electromyographic findings, and magnetic resonance images all were normal. Histologic findings in a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen were compatible with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific inter-stitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NSIP). A diagnosis of anti-Jo-1 antibody syndrome was made, includ-ing IP and arthritis but lacking myositis. Arthralgia and IP promptly responded to steroid therapy (prednisolone, 30mg/day). The present case was considered valuable for clarifying the etiopathogenic relationship between autoantibodies and specific clinical symptoms.