title: Distinct arthropathies of the hands in patients  with anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase  antibodies: usefulness of autoantibody profiles  in classifying patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize arthropathies of the hands associated with antiaminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS) autoantibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with anti-ARS antibodies were selected from consecutive patients who visited Keio University Hospital between1983 and 2011, based on their joint symptoms and the availability of hand X-rays. Their clinical characteristics, anti-CCP antibodies, RF, and hand X-ray findings were retrospectively examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on characteristic hand X-ray findings, the anti-ARS-positive patients with joint symptoms could largely be categorized into three groups. The predominant group (64%) was patients with no significant X-ray findings. The remaining patients with destructive changes were classified into two distinct groups. One group had mainly erosions in the PIP and MCP joints and/or ankylosis of the wrists with anti-CCP and RF, which is consistent with the features of RA. The other group showed subluxation of the thumbs and periarticular calcification that was independent of anti-CCP or RF, which is exclusively found in anti-Jo-1-positive patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autoantibody profiles, including anti-CCP, RF and individual anti-ARS specificities, are useful in classifying anti-ARS-associated arthropathies of the hands into RA or anti-Jo-1-related disorders.
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Kaneko
authors: Hironari
authors: H
authors: Hanaoka
authors: Michito
authors: M
authors: Hirakata
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Masataka
authors: M
authors: Kuwana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000276:immunology*; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases