Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia revealing an antisynthetase syndrome

Abstract

One of the most common interstitial lung diseases in antisynthetase syndrome is nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). A 49-year-old woman presented with slow progression exertional dyspnea, myalgia, and arthralgia. The radiological findings indicated an NSIP pattern. Autoantibodies were found to be positive, but no lung biopsy was performed. Even though corticosteroid therapy significantly improved the patient's dyspnea, the patient developed mechanic's hands, the anti-synthetase antibody (PL12) became positive, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels increased. As a result, the antisynthetase syndrome was established. The patient follow-up after three years revealed an improvement in symptoms under corticosteroid therapy.