Open AccessDistinct seasonal patterns in the onset of adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in patients with anti‐jo‐1 and anti‐signal recognition particle autoantibodies
Author(s) -
Leff Richard L.,
Burgess Suzanne H.,
Miller Frederick W.,
Love Lori A.,
Targoff Ira N.,
Dalakas Marinos C.,
Joffe Marshall M.,
Plotz Paul H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780341108
Subject(s) - polymyositis , autoantibody , dermatomyositis , medicine , etiology , myositis , myopathy , inflammatory myopathy , immunology , pathology , antibody
In idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM; or, polymyositis/dermatomyositis), the myositis‐specific autoantibodies anti‐Jo‐1 and anti‐signal recognition particle (anti‐SRP), appear to define clinically and immunogenetically distinct groups of patients. We show here that the month during which the onset of weakness occurs is not random in patients with anti‐Jo‐1 autoantibodies (average month April, P < 0.02) and in those with anti‐SRP autoantibodies (average month November, P < 0.02); both groups of patients also experience rapid onset of disease. By contrast, patients classified into the traditional categories of polymyositis and dermatomyositis do not have recognizable seasonal patterns and do not differ in the rate of onset of disease. These findings suggest that searches for seasonal patterns in the onset of autoimmune disorders characterized by disease‐specific autoantibodies may provide useful clues to etiology.