Associations between anti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 antibody and demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory results of patients with dermatomyositis: A systematic meta‐analysis

Anti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody is a specific biomarker in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Results from several studies that examined the relationship between anti‐MDA5 antibody and the demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory results of DM patients have been conflicting. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship, if any, of anti‐MDA5 antibody with demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory results of DM patients. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies without language restrictions conducted before 16 March 2017. Stata version 12.0 software was used to calculate pooled odds ratios or weighted mean differences and corresponding 95% confidence intervals to determine the relationship between anti‐MDA5 antibody and patient characteristics. Twenty studies comprising 1500 cases were included in this meta‐analysis. Anti‐MDA5 antibody was strongly associated with clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD). Anti‐MDA5 antibody also increased the risk of developing eight characteristics comprising Gottron's sign or papules, mechanic's hand, V rash, skin ulcers, panniculitis, alopecia, arthritis/arthralgia and pneumomediastinum, but reduced the risk of muscle weakness, classic DM (CDM) and elevated creatine kinase (CK). Our meta‐analysis indicated that anti‐MDA5 antibody is related to muscle weakness, Gottron's sign or papules, mechanic's hand, V rash, skin ulcers, panniculitis, alopecia, arthritis/arthralgia, pneumomediastinum, RPILD, CDM, CADM and elevated CK in patients with DM.