Antisynthethase syndrome presenting as peripheral limb fasciitis

Abstract

Inflammatory myopathy is a major clinical manifestation of the antisynthetase syndrome. Patients with anti Jo-1 antibodies can also present with other clinical manifestations as arthritis, mechanic's hands and lung fibrosis. As in dermatomyositis, polymyositis and overlap myopathies proximal muscle of the limbs are preferentialy involved. Associated fascia edema on magnetic resonance imagery studies with histological proven fasciitis has been reported. However peripheral limb involvement, reported here in two patients, as the isolated initial manifestation is unusual.

Keywords: Antisynthetase syndrome; Dermatomyositis; Fasciitis; Muscle MRI.