Background: Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibody-positive patients present with a variety of symptoms, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), which is termed anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS). But it is rare that ASS-ILD is considered an immune-related adverse event after the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Case presentation: A 47-year-old male with advanced lung adenocarcinoma was treated with platinum and ICI combination immunotherapy and was followed up as an outpatient. Nine months after the start of treatment, he developed a fever and cough, and imaging findings showed lung consolidations in the bilateral lower lung fields. The patient was positive for anti- ARS antibodies and was considered to have developed ASS-ILD due to ICIs remitted with steroid therapy. The patient was found to be positive for anti-ARS antibodies before ICI administration, and the antibody titer was elevated compared to that before ICI administration.
Conclusions: The examination of anti-ARS antibodies pior to the administration of ICIs may be useful in predicting the development of ASS-ILD.
Keywords: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS); Anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS); Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); Interstitial lung disease; Lung cancer.
© 2023. The Author(s).