Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent manifestation of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Some studies show a high prevalence of Anti-Ro52 in patients with ILD associated CTD and potentially related with poor prognosis.

Objectives: To describe demographic, clinical, serological and radiological features, treatment and outcomes in a patient cohort.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal descriptive study incluiding patients from 2 centers in Argentina who exhibit ILD and Ro52.

Results: 24 patients were included (95.8% female) with a mean age of 58 years. The average follow-up was 29.5 months. Most patients had chronic pulmonary symptoms.16 patients (66.6%) met the criteria for CTD, while 20.9% were unclassifiable and 12.5% were diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features. Within the CTD group, half of the patients had idiopathic inflammatory myopathies while systemic sclerosis and overlap syndrome were equally present (18.75%). Most patients (95.8%) had positive antinuclear antibodies, and 62.5% had a positive total Anti Ro. Seven patients (29%) had an isolated Ro52-positive (negative for total Anti Ro); 29.1% had positive Rheumatoid factor and 15% had Anti la positive.Basal FVC showed mild restriction and DLCO was moderately reduced. Both values did not significantly change over time.Most patients had NSIP pattern on CT-scan (63.6%), and the most common treatment was corticosteroids (66.6%). One patient died (4.1%), 14 patients had hospital admissions (58.3%), and 2 required oxygen therapy (8.3%).

Conclusions: Most patients with ILD-RO52 exhibited association with CTD. Ro52 antibodies did not correlate with the presence of total SSA-Ro antibodies.