19.
Yet, it is not clear which marker (markers) can conveniently be used to
determine the severity of ILD in CTD20. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is a
high molecular weight, mucin like glycoprotein grouped as human MUC1
mucin produced by type II alveolar pneumocytes and bronchial epithelial
cells, cellular damage and regeneration are the main stimulants21. It is an significant serum marker
for interstitial lung disease (ILD); it can expect development of ILD in
connective tissue diseased patient 22.Furthermore, Sato, Hoshino, Satoh, Fujita, Kawakami,
Kuwana, Fujita 23 reported that KL-6 is positively
associated with the severity of ILD, and those patients had a worse
prognosis with these biomarkers.
Due to high fatality of ILD in association with CTD, the need for
biochemical marker for early detection is emergency, So, our study aimed
to evaluate the correlation between serum KL-6 levels with both presence
of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and its severity in connective tissue
diseased children, directing to early detection and better management of
interstitial lung disease in CTD children.