Clinical characteristics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies related to anti-SRP: a single center experience

Abstract Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) with autoantibodies recognizing the signal recognition particle (SRP) is characterized by prominent proximal weakness, infrequent extramuscular involvement, dramatically elevated creatine kinase levels, and myofiber necrosis with few inflammatory cell infiltrates in muscle tissue. To enhance understanding of the clinically used diagnosis and treatment of this disease, this study presents a single-center experience and analysis of a Chinese cohort with anti-SRP IIM. The most recent European Neuromuscular Center criteria were used to include Anti-SRP IIM patients from September 2016 to November 2019. Prior to treatment initiation, all sera were collected for the detection of anti-SRP autoantibodies and other myositis-related autoantibodies. Muscle strength, concurrent autoimmune conditions, comorbidities like interstitial lung disease (ILD), treatment outcomes, and follow-up results were also documented. Univariate logistic regression was employed to determine factors affecting prognosis. Among 271 patients with IIM, we identified 23 (8.5%) patients with anti-SRP IIM. Lower limb muscle weakness was frequently more severe. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was observed in 50% of anti-SRP IIM patients. The presence of ILD may serve as a predictor of a poor prognosis, as revealed by univariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 3.8, 95% CI: 1.0-6.8, p = 0.05).This Chinese Anti-SRP IIM cohort from Hunan province seems to have higher incidences of ILD, and associated ILD may be a risk factor for a poor prognosis. To fully understand the specific role of the anti-SRP autoantibody in this unique subset with ILD, further research is necessary.