Myositis Antibodies and Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) comprises a heterogeneous group of inflammatory and fibrotic conditions, often resulting in progressive lung function decline and increased mortality. Connective tissue disease (CTD) should be considered in all patients with ILD, as distinguishing between CTD-ILD and other forms of fibrotic lung disease has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) represent a CTD subtype of growing interest to ILD experts. The expansion and availability of myositis-specific and myositis-associated antibody testing has allowed for improved disease detection and characterization.

In this review, we highlight the relationship between myositis antibodies and ILD. Select forms of IIM, such as the antisynthetase syndrome and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis can present with rapidly progressive ILD, warranting timely disease diagnosis and management. Disease phenotypes, prevalence, laboratory testing, prognosis, and management strategies are described according to select myositis antibodies.

Myositis antibodies provide valuable information for clinicians managing patients with ILD. This review aims to increase awareness of their role in disease detection, pathophysiology, and possibly therapeutics.