Clinical and immunological characteristics and prognosis of patients with autoantibody negative dermatomyositis: a case control study

ConclusionsCompared with MSAs-positive group,  MSAs-negative DM patients suffered less from organ involvement compared with MSAs-positive group and tend to have better prognosis.Key PointsMSAs-negative DM patients exhibited distinct characteristics in comparison with MSAs-positive DM  patients:  •The MSAs ( −)/MAAs (+) DM patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of organizing pneumonia (OP) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and elevated eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.  •CEA levels were lower in MSAs-negative patients compared with MSAs-positive patients.  •Elevated counts of lymphocytes and CD16+CD56+NK cells were identified in the MSAs-negative  patients. Additionally, proportions of CD4+TNF α+, CD4+IFN γ+, and CD4+IL-2+cells among total CD4+T cells were higher in the MSAs-negative DM patients compared with DM MSAs-positive DM patients.  •MSAs-negative DM  patients had a more favorable prognosis than MSAs-positive DM patients. A multivariable regression analysis revealed the advanced onset age, high CEA levels, and RP-ILD were risk factors for mortality in DM patients.
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research