[The anti-synthetase syndrome: muscle disease and multisystem disorder at the same time].
In three women, aged 60, 45 and 38 years, who presented with exertional dyspnoea (due to lung fibrosis) and Raynaud's phenomenon, dermatomyopathy and Raynaud's phenomenon, and symmetrical arthralgia and myalgia, respectively, the anti-synthetase syndrome was diagnosed. The anti-synthetase syndrome consists of myositis, idiopathic interstitial lung disease, polyarthritis and Raynaud's phenomenon. The syndrome is characterised by the presence of autoantibodies directed against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A thorough knowledge of this syndrome is required to anticipate manifestations of the disease, which can sometimes be masked and are not always part of the treating physician's field of specialty. The patients were treated with immunosuppressive therapy (azathioprine, prednisone, methotrexate) and recovered considerably.
Hengstman
G J
GJ
Neuromusculair Centrum Nijmegen, Instituut voor Neurologie, Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. g.hengstman@neuro.umcn.nl
van Venrooij
W J
WJ
van den Hoogen
F H
FH
van Engelen
B G
BG
D000328:Adult; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000276:immunology*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008168:Lung; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases