Krebs von den Lungen-6 as biomarker of the new progressive fibrotic phenotype of interstitial lung disease.

Background: Novel progressive fibrotic phenotype has recently been proposed characterized by progressive and inexorable worsening of the disease. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) has been proposed as fibrotic-ILD biomarker. We aimed to assess the role of KL-6 in fibrotic-ILD and the progressive phenotype in accordance with serial serum KL-6.

Methods: 107 patients were enrolled in the study (median age,IQR, 65(54-71)y/o) followed at respiratory diseases and rheumatology units of University of Siena. Thirty-five had diagnoses of IPF, 18 sarcoidosis, 10 PLCH, 5 LAM, 24 fibrotic HP(fHP), 13 RA (4/13 RA-ILD) and 22 SSc (18/22 SSc-ILD). Serial serum samples were collected before therapy (t0) and 24 months later (t1) from IPF, SSc- and RA-ILD patients. Twenty-two healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Serum samples were assayed for KL-6 concentrations (Fujirebio Europe, Gent, Belgium).

Results: Higher KL-6 concentrations were reported in IPF, fHP and SSc-ILD patients than HC (p<0.0001). KL-6 cut-off value of 885 U/mL identified fibrotic-ILD patients. Logistic regression analysis indicated KL-6 (p=0.004) and smoking-habit (p=0.005) affected the ILD diagnosis. The decision tree model showed KL-6>1145 U/mL, DLco≤60.15 %, FVC≤86 % to classify 86 % IPF patients. Inverse correlation between T0-KL-6 and T1-FVC%(r=-0.314, p=0.046) and T1-DLco%(r=-0.327, p=0.038) in the progressive group.

Conclusion: KL-6 proved to be a reliable marker for diagnosis and prognosis of fibrotic ILD patients with predictive value in progressive fibrotic patients and a useful marker to identify the new and similar progressive phenotype of IPF and SSc-ILD patients assessing the functional progression in accordance with serial serum KL-6 measurements.