Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
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Label_Title

Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Biomedical Science and Engineering

We are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for peer review for all the journals across all our subject areas in SciEP.

Please submit your manuscript via our online submission system:
http://www.sciepub.com/author/signin

To unsubscribe from our mailing list, please click on the following link: unsubscribe

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

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David Rain
Email:join@sciepub.com
Science and Education Publishing (http://www.sciepub.com)

Anti-EJ Antisynthetase Syndrome Associated with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection

Michael Trevisonno*, Daniel E. Diaz, Steven S. Chin, FCAP Jenny Libien, Yamen Homsi

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

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

Received May 01, 2020; Revised June 01, 2020; Accepted June 08, 2020

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

1. Introduction

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are rare autoimmune diseases characterized by proximal muscle weakness in association with various clinical involvement of the joints, skin, lungs, and esophagus. [1] One subset, antisynthetase syndrome, requires an antibody directed against aminoacyl transfer RNA. Disseminated tuberculosis in autoimmune conditions is accredited to various immune irregularities as well as to treatment with immunosuppressive therapy. Herein, we report a 62-year-old woman who presents with fever and migratory myositis who was diagnosed with anti-EJ antibody associated antisynthetase syndrome. Fatal disseminated tuberculosis was identified as the cause of death at autopsy.

2. Case Presentation

A 62 year-old Afro-Caribbean woman presented to the emergency room (ER) with migratory muscle pain and swelling of her left upper arm, left upper chest, and bilateral thighs. One month prior, she presented to an outside ER with the complaint of acute right upper extremity muscle pain and swelling. At that time, she underwent a right biceps muscle biopsy, which showed necrotizing myopathy, with macrophages associated with necrotic fibers but without significant lymphocytic infiltrates. MHC Class I antigens (HLA A, B, C) were upregulated by immunohistochemical staining of the biopsy (Figure 1). She was treated with pulse IV steroids for three days then prednisone at 60 mg/day until she presented to our ER.

Review of systems was positive for fever, shortness of breath, and generalized weakness. Past medical history included diabetes mellitus. She was not on any medication besides prednisone. She denied smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse. She had recently traveled to Trinidad three months ago.

In the ER, she was febrile at 101.5° F with a heart rate of 130. The patient was alert and oriented. Physical exam revealed swelling and tenderness of the left pectoral muscle area, left upper arm, and left thigh. Fine crackles were heard at the bases of the lungs. Skin exam was negative for rash. The rest of the exam was normal.

Initial laboratory data was significant for a white blood cell count of 6.3 k/ul with critical bandemia of 20 %, c-reactive protein of 351 mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 60 mm/hour, lactic acid of 4 mmol/L, creatine kinase of 3852 u/L, and Procalcitonin of 30 ng/mL. Given the history of necrotizing myopathy, a myositis panel was sent to a national reference laboratory. Computed tomography of the chest showed a heterogeneous appearance of the left pectoralis muscle with surrounding fluid attenuation and scattered subcentimeter lymph nodes. Pulmonary findings included bilateral basilar thickening of the interlobular septa with surrounding and scattered ground-glass opacities.

Figure 1. (Left - H&E, 20x; Right - IHC of MHC Class I, 20x) Left: Muscle showing atrophy and chronic inflammation in the endomysium. Right: Muscle showing diffuse upregulation of MHC class I molecules

The patient was initially treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibiotics and admitted to the intensive care unit. Her condition rapidly declined as she went into septic shock, had acute renal and hepatic failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. On hospital day ten, the patient went into cardiac arrest and died.

Post-mortem examination concluded disseminated mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection, confirmed by PCR of paraffin-embedded tissue as the cause of death. There were numerous acid fast bacilli in areas of acute necrotizing inflammation in soft tissue, primarily in adipose and lymph nodes of the chest wall (Figure 2). The outside muscle biopsy did not show soft tissue granulomatous inflammation on initial levels; however, on deeper levels performed after the patient’s death, soft tissue revealed granulomatous inflammation (Figure 3). The right quadricep muscle showed perifascicular atrophy and necrosis, a distinctive feature of antisynthetase syndrome (Figure 4). Microscopic examination of the lungs showed fibrosing and cellular interstitial lung disease with thickened pleura consistent with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (Figure 5). No granulomatous inflammation was identified on representative sectioning of the lungs.

Figure 2. (AFB stain, 40x) Numerous positive acid fast bacilli in a background of inflamed necrotic subcutaneous tissue

Figure 3. (AFB stain, 40x) AFB stain of the deeper levels of the initial muscle biopsy showing soft tissue with granulomatous inflammation.

Figure 4. (H&E, 10x) Perifascicular involvement of postmortem quadriceps muscle.

Figure 5. (H&E, 4x) Lung showing patterns consistent with non-specific interstitial pneumonia

The results of the myositis panel performed by immunoprecipitation assay were received postmortem and were positive for anti-glycyl (EJ) antibody. This result, in conjunction with the muscle biopsy showing necrotizing myopathy with upregulation of MHC Class I, the autopsy findings of NSIP, and perifascicular necrotizing myopathy, supports the diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome.

3. Discussion

Antisynthetase syndrome is a subset of IIMs with unique clinical features that can include interstitial lung disease (ILD), non-erosive arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, mechanics hands, and the presence of antisynthetase antibodies. [1] Interstitial lung disease has a higher prevalence in antisynthetase syndrome compared to dermatomyositis and polymyositis. [2] Antibodies are directed against aminoacyl transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases. Eight antibodies have been discovered, including anti-Jo-1 (most common), anti-EJ, anti-PL7, anti-PL12, anti-OJ, anti-KS, anti-ZO, and anti-Ha. [2] Nearly all are associated with ILD, but myositis is closely associated with Anti-Jo-1, Anti-PL-7, and Anti-EJ. [3] Patients with non-Jo-1 antibodies are shown to have lower survival rates. [4] In one study of 12 patients with anti-EJ antisynthetase syndrome who underwent surgical lung biopsy, 9 had NSIP pattern and 3 had unclassifiable interstitial pneumonia. [5] The most characteristic histological feature of skeletal muscle involvement is myofiber necrosis in the perifascicular region. [6]

Individuals with systemic connective tissue diseases are at increased risk for developing infection, either from immune abnormalities, from the disease itself, or from immunosuppressive treatment. Bacterial infections are most common, but viral and fungal infections also contributed to increased morbidity and mortality. [7] A study of eighteen patients with PM/DM showed a high frequency of opportunistic infections, with more than 50% being fungal. [8] The incidence rate of M. tuberculosis infection in IIMs is greater than the incidence in the general population. [9] Extrapulmonary patterns of TB have also been described to be more common in IIMs; in a retrospective case series of thirty patients who had tuberculosis and systemic rheumatic disease, 2/3 of the patients had extrapulmonary tuberculosis while only 1/3 had pulmonary tuberculosis. [10] It is possible that the immunosuppression in our patient led to re-activation and dissemination of TB. Our patient also recently traveled to Trinidad, which is a high risk area for mycobacterial infection. The weakness, swelling, and pain in her affected muscle groups were likely due to a combination of antisynthetase syndrome and mycobacterial infection. This case illustrates the first association in the medical literature between anti-EJ anti-synthetase syndrome and disseminated mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Early diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infection in rheumatic disease is crucial to increase survival.

References

[1]   | Lundberg IE, de Visser M, Werth VP, “Classification of myositis”, Nat Rev Rheumatol, 14. 269-78. April 2018.
[2]   | Witt LJ, Curran JJ, Strek ME, “The Diagnosis and Treatment of Antisynthetase Syndrome”, Clin Pulm Med, 23. 218-26. September 2016.

[3]  
Hamaguchi Y, Fujimoto M, Matsushita T, Kaji K, Komura K, Hasegawa M Kodera M, Muroi E, Fujikawa K, Seishima M, Yamada H, Yamada R, Sato S, Takehara K, Kuwana M, “Common and distinct clinical features in adult patients with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies: heterogeneity within the syndrome”, PLos One, 8 (4). e60442. April 2013.

[4]   | Aggarwal R, Cassidy E, Fertig N, Koontz DC, Lucas M, Ascherman DP, Oddis CV, “Patients with non-Jo-1 anti-tRNA-synthetase autoantibodies have worse survival than Jo-1 positive patients”, Ann Rheum Dis, 73(1). 227-32. February 2013.

[5]  
Sasano H, Hagiwara E, Kitamura H, Enomoto Y, Matsuo N, Baba T, Iso S, Okudela K, Iwasawa T, Sato S, Suzuki Y, Takemura T, Ogura T, “Long-term clinical course of anti-glycyl tRNA synthetase (anti-EJ) antibody-related interstitial lung disease pathologically proven by surgical lung biopsy”, BMC Pulm Med, 16(1). 168. December 2016.

[6]   | Noguchi E, Uruha A, Suzuki S, Hamanaka K, Ohnuki Y, Tsugawa J, Watanabe Y, Nakahara J, Shiina T, Suzuki N, Nishino I, “Skeletal Muscle Involvement in Antisynthetase Syndrome”, JAMA Neurol, 74(8). 992-9. August 2017.
[7]   | Alarcón GS, “Infections in systemic connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis”, Infect Dis Clin North Am, 20(4). 849-75. November 2006.
[8]   | Marie I, Hachulla E, Chérin P, Hellot MF, Herson S, Levesque H, Haltron PY, “Opportunistic infections in polymyositis and dermatomyositis”, Arthritis Rheum, 53(2). 155-65. April 2005.
[9]   | Kim HA, Yoo CD, Baek HJ, Lee EB, Ahn C, Han JS, Kim S, Lee JS, Choe KW, Song YW, “Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a corticosteroid-treated rheumatic disease patient population”, Clin Exp Rheumatol, 16(1). 9-13. January 1998.
[10]   | Hernández-Cruz B, Sifuentes-Osornio J, Ponce-de-León Rosales S, Ponce-de-León Garduno A, Diaz-Jouanen E, “Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. A case-series”, Clin Exp Rheumato, 17(3). 289-96. May 1999.