Anti-SAE 1 IgG autoantibody can be used to assist in the diagnoses and characterization of a subset of dermatomyositis (DM) patients. It is highly specific for DM (>95%) and is present in 5-8% of the European DM population. Initial disease onset may consist of mild myopathic features with severe skin involvement; however, extensive myalgia and muscle disease with weakness can appear as the disease progresses. It is associated with dysphagia and systemic symptoms (i.e. fevers, weight loss, increased inflammatory markers). In one cohort, an association with ILD and cancer had been found.
