Limitations of a single-point evaluation of anti-MDA5 antibody, ferritin, and IL-18 in predicting the prognosis of interstitial lung disease with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis

Clin Rheumatol. 2013 Mar;32(3):395-8. doi: 10.1007/s10067-012-2142-x. Epub 2012 Dec 19.

Abstract

Autoantibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) are important serological markers in dermatomyositis (DM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD). Recent studies noted that anti-MDA5 antibody (anti-MDA5ab), ferritin, and IL-18 are useful biomarkers for evaluating the responses to treatment and the status of ILD in anti-MDA5ab-positive DM. In this study, we further studied the importance of anti-MDA5ab levels and of ferritin and IL-18 concentrations in our patients. These biomarkers could be sometimes useful for evaluating ILD status and/or predicting the prognosis in patients with anti-MDA5ab-positive DM with several exceptional cases. A single-point evaluation of anti-MDA5ab levels and of ferritin and IL-18 concentrations has limitations in predicting the prognosis of ILD with DM. We consider that the timing of initial therapy and the anti-MDA5ab isotype, in addition to the patient's age, are also crucial factors for predicting the prognosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Comorbidity
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / immunology*
  • Dermatomyositis / blood
  • Dermatomyositis / diagnosis*
  • Dermatomyositis / epidemiology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1
  • Interleukin-18 / blood*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / blood
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukin-18
  • Ferritins
  • IFIH1 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1