Anti-EJ Antisynthetase Syndrome Associated with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection

Michael Trevisonno^1, , Daniel E. Diaz², Steven S. Chin³, FCAP Jenny Libien² and Yamen Homsi⁴

¹Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA

²Department of Pathology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA

³Therapath Neuropathology, New York, USA

⁴Department of Rheumatology, New York University Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, USA

Cite this paper

Michael Trevisonno, Daniel E. Diaz, Steven S. Chin, FCAP Jenny Libien and Yamen Homsi. Anti-EJ Antisynthetase Syndrome Associated with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2020; 8(9):306-310. doi: 10.12691/AJMCR-8-9-12

Abstract

Antisynthetase Syndrome is a rare type of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. It is characterized by interstitial lung disease, non-erosive arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and mechanic’s hands. Diagnosis is confirmed with the detection of an antibody directed against amino-acyl transferase RNA. Opportunistic infections are common causes of mortality in patients with autoimmune diseases. Immunosuppressive treatment further contributes to the risk of infection. We report, for the first time in the literature, a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with Anti-EJ antisynthestase syndrome who died from disseminated mycobacterial tuberculosis infection. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and prompt treatment of opportunistic infections in order to decrease mortality.

Keywords

antisynthetase syndrome, Anti-EJ antibody, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, mycobacterium tuberculosis

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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