| INTRODUC TI ONDermatomyositis (DM) is characterized by inflammatory myopathy with typical skin rashes, such as Gottron`s papules or sign and heliotrope rash. Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) are detected in ~80% of patients with DM 1 and include anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS), anti-melanoma differential-associated gene 5 (MDA5), anti-Mi-2, antinuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2), anti-transcription intermediary factor 1-γ (TIF1-γ), and anti-small ubiquitinlike modifier activating enzyme (SAE). 2 Basically, MSAs are mutually exclusive and are closely linked to unique clinical features, including the distribution and severity of organ involvement, response to treatment, and prognosis. 3 Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the major organ involvements and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with DM. Among MSAs, anti-ARS and anti-MDA5 antibodies are strongly related to the presence of ILD but to different forms of ILD. 3 For example, characteristics of anti-ARS-associated ILD include a better response to initial treatment, frequent relapse during the tapering of the dosage of corticosteroids, and poor long-term prognosis because of deterioration of pulmonary function due to progression of ILD. 3 On the other hand, patients with anti-MDA5 antibody frequently develop rapidly progressive ILD, and ~30% of them die within 3 months after diagnosis due to respiratory failure. 4 In contrast, it has been reported that ILD is relatively uncommon in DM patients without anti-ARS or anti-MDA5 antibodies. 3,5,6 However,
AbstractThe presence of anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS) or anti-melanoma differential-associated gene 5 (MDA5) is strongly related to interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Several studies suggest a potential relationship between ILD and anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme (SAE) antibody in DM patients, but detailed clinical characteristics of anti-SAE-associated ILD still remain unknown. We have experienced 2 cases who were positive for anti-SAE antibody, who presented with ILD in the context of clinically amyopathic DM. These 2 patients had the following common ILD characteristics: an insidious course with preserved pulmonary function; a limited extent of pulmonary lesions with subpleural peripheral-dominant small ground glass opacity/consolidation on high-resolution computed tomography; and a favorable treatment response. These findings suggest that anti-SAE-associated ILD is unique in terms of clinical and imaging features and differs from ILD associated with anti-ARS or anti-MDA5 antibody.
K E Y W O R D Santi-small ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme antibody, dermatomyositis, human leukocyte antigen, interstitial lung disease