title: Anti-EJ antibody positive interstitial lung disease with skin changes at the fingertips.
abstract: Antisynthetase syndrome is characterized by the presence of anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies and characteristic clinical features. We report an anti-EJ antibody-positive case presenting an ILD with slight hyperkeratotic skin changes on the fingertips that appeared simultaneously with respiratory symptoms. We suspected those skin changes of a disease manifestation of antisynthetase syndrome, and thus investigated anti-synthetase antibodies. This case implies that broader spectrum of the patients should fall in antisynthetase syndrome even though the present diagnostic criteria call for mechanic's hand as a skin manifestation. Careful examination of the finger skin and antibody testing should lead to a proper understanding of the pathological processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Japan.
authors.forename: Mineto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohsaka
mesh_terms: D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000473:pathology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases