Compared baseline characteristics with the survivors, non-survivors with anti-MDA5-positive DM had advanced age of onset (59 ± 6 vs. 46 ± 9 years), higher rates of fever (75 vs. 18%) and positive CEA (75 vs. 14%), higher levels of serum ferritin (median 2,858 vs. 619 ug/L), LDH (median 472 vs. 309 U/L), and AST (median 59 vs. 32 U/L), but lower levels of hemoglobin (Hb, median 112 vs. 125 g/L) and ALB (median 25 vs. 32 g/L, all p < 0.05, Table 3 and Supplementary Table 3) at enrollment. Here, GSTM1 is linked to dermatomyositis.