I have been requested to explain what Antisynthetase Syndrome is. I found this explanation on the National Institute of Health - Office of Rare Disease Research website.

Antisynthetase syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown cause. It is a subgroup of the idiopathic (unknown cause) inflammatory muscle diseases and is characterized by myositis, interstitial lung disease, arthritis, and Raynaud's phenomenon.

What causes antisynthetase syndrome?
The cause of antisynthetase syndrome is unknown; however, the production of a group of autoantibodies (antibodies that attack normal cells instead of disease-causing agents) that recognize and attack certain enzymes in the body called 'aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases' appears to be linked to the cause of the syndrome. The amicoacyl-tRNA synthetases are a family of enzymes which play a vital role in protein synthesis in the body. The autoantibody more commonly associated with antisynthetase syndrome is anti-Jo-1. Their exact role in causation of antisynthetase syndrome is not yet known, but viruses have been implicated. The fact that the onset of symptoms of antisynthetase syndrome typically occur during winter provides indirect evidence that infectious agents may play a role.

The severity and type of lung involvement typically determines the outcome of the disease. I have been told that my prognosis is not the best as I already have lung involvement. I am choosing not to believe that and that I will get this disease in control.

Hope this definition helps. I will write more later.