KL-6 as a novel marker for activities of interstitial pneumonia in connective tissue diseases

  • S. Fukaya
  • , H. Oshima
  • , K. Kato
  • , Y. Komatsu
  • , H. Matsumura
  • , K. Ishii
  • , H. Miyama
  • , T. Nagai
  • , I. Tanaka
  • , A. Mizutani
  • , M. Katayama
  • , S. Yoshida
  • , K. Torikai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the role of serum KL-6 levels as a marker for the activity of interstitial pneumonia in patients with connective tissue diseases. The serum concentrations of KL-6, a glycoprotein produced mainly by pulmonary type II epithelial cells, were measured in 21 patients with connective tissue disease. The activity of interstitial pneumonia was compared with the associated serum KL-6 concentrations. Serum KL-6 concentrations in patients with interstitial pneumonia were significantly higher than those in the controls. Among patients with active interstitial pneumonia, serum KL-6 concentrations following the treatment (after improvement) were significantly lower than the pretreatment values. The extent of the pulmonary fibrosis correlated positively with the serum KL-6 concentrations during the inactive phase of the interstitial pneumonia. These results suggest that sequential measurement of serum KL-6 levels is a new and useful means for the evaluation of interstitial pneumonia in patients with connective tissue diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-225
Number of pages3
JournalRheumatology International
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology

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