A case of Sjögren's syndrome that was positive for anti-aminoacyl trna synthetase antibodies, indicating interstitial pneumonia with acute lung injury determined by surgical pulmonary biopsy

A 77-year-old woman who had a one-month history of dyspnea and non-productive cough, as well as abnormal shadows on chest X-ray images, was referred to the Kyushu University Hospital, where chest CT scans showed interstitial pneumonia. Sjogren's syndrome was diagnosed following detection of anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies and histopathology of lip biopsy specimens. Histopathological analysis of lung biopsy specimens showed an acute lung injury that overlapped with chronic interstitial pneumonia, which is inconsistent with the typical lung pathology of Sjogren's syndrome. Subsequent analysis revealed the presence of anti-EJ antibodies, anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibodies associated with polymyositis/ dermatomyositis. These results suggest a rare over-lapping case of Sjogren's syndrome and antisynthe- Tase syndrome.