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OBJECTIVE KL-6 is a mucin-like glycoprotein that is strongly expressed on type II pneumocytes in the lung. Circulating KL-6 has been shown to be a sensitive marker of the disease activity of interstitial lung diseases. We determined the serum levels of KL-6 in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and investigated whether these levels would serve as a useful marker of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in patients with SSc. METHODS The serum KL-6 levels were determined using a specific ELISA in 91 patients with SSc, and in 38 healthy controls. RESULTS The serum levels of KL-6 were significantly higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls (923+/-860 vs. 382+/-55 U/ml; p<0.0001). The serum KL-6 levels of the patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) tended to be higher than those with limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) (1054+/-1000 vs. 800+/-694 U/ml), but there was no significant difference between these 2 groups. The serum KL-6 levels in the patients with PF were significantly elevated compared to those without PF (1283+/-1056 vs. 520+/-148 U/ml; p<0.0001). Moreover, DLCO and VC were also significantly decreased in the patients with elevated KL-6 levels compared to those with normal levels (62+/-22% vs. 72+/-17%, p<0.05; 87 +/-20% vs. 100+/-18%, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Serum KL-6 level may be a useful serum marker for evaluating pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SSc.
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
January 2000,
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland),
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
January 2003,
Clinical and experimental rheumatology,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
January 2014,
Clinical and experimental rheumatology,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
April 2004,
The Journal of rheumatology,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
December 2000,
Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan),
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
February 2013,
The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
December 2000,
Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan),
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
June 2004,
The Journal of rheumatology,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
June 1995,
Tubercle and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease,
K Yamane, and
H Ihn, and
M Kubo, and
N Yazawa, and
K Kikuchi, and
Y Soma, and
K Tamaki
July 2021,
Experimental dermatology,
