Hey #rheumtwitter and #medtwitter!
It’s T-11 days until my first rheumatology boards. As I study, I’m going to be posting some rheumatology pearls, mnemonic devices I use, and MCQs. First up: how I remember the myositis-specific antibodies!

Anti-Mi2: If I had to choose a form of dermatomyositis to have, anti-Mi2 would be “Mi” pick. That’s because it has little to no association with cancer or ILD, and responds very well to immunosuppression, with 90+% 5-year-survival.

Anti-NXP2 (p140): The in NXP reminds me of a cruciate incision one could make to excise some calcinosis. Calcinosis is particularly common in this form of DM!

Anti-TIF-1γ (p155/140): You’ll be in a TIF when you hear that anti-TIF-1γ DM is very commonly associated with malignancy.

Anti-MDA5: MDA could stand for “My Dermis Abnormal”: unique skin findings (finger ulcerations and palmar papules) not commonly seen in other forms of DM.

MDA could also be for “Muscles Don’t Atrophy” (not literally true, but often MDA5 is clinically amyopathic) or “Multi Drug Armamentarium” (often with rapidly progressive ILD, requires heavy immunosuppression with multiple agents early on)

Anti-SRP: S is for “Severe”: very acute and severe muscle necrosis. R is for “Really just the muscles here”: no rash or ILD. P is for “Prognosis poor”: poor response to therapy, 30% 5-year-survival.

Anti-Jo1: Anti-Jo1 accounts for ⅔ of ASyS cases. It tends to have the most “classic” ASyS presentation with the triad of ILD, arthritis, and myositis. Since my name is JOanna, of course JO1 would be the popular, classic, cool ASyS Ab.

Other antisynthetase Abs: Anti-PL7, anti-PL12, anti-EJ, and anti-OJ all tend to have more ILD and less arthritis than anti-Jo1, but ANY can have ANY portion of the classic triad. Doubt if we’ll see other ASyS Abs (KS, Zo, Ha) on boards.

Follow for more rheumatology pearls, mnemonics, and board prep!