Comparison of pulmonary CT findings and serum KL-6 levels in patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia

Br J Radiol. 2009 Mar;82(975):212-8. doi: 10.1259/bjr/72775434. Epub 2008 Dec 8.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare high-resolution CT findings among cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) patients with normal and elevated serum KL-6 levels. Chest CT scans performed between April 1999 and April 2007 in 20 COP patients with a normal KL-6 level and 17 COP patients with an elevated KL-6 level were evaluated retrospectively by two chest radiologists. The CT findings in the COP patients with either a normal or an elevated KL-6 level mainly consisted of consolidation (n = 17 and n = 13, respectively) followed by ground-glass opacity (n = 11 and n = 13, respectively). Traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion were significantly more frequent in patients with an elevated KL-6 level than in those with normal levels (n = 7 and n = 1, and n = 13 and n = 3, respectively) (p = 0.0077 and p = 0.00017, respectively). In follow-up CT scans, a relapse within 1 year after initial treatment with steroids, performed in 16 patients with a normal KL-6 level and 16 with an elevated KL-6 level, occurred in 2 (12.5%) patients with a normal KL-6 level and in 6 (37.5%) with an elevated KL-6 level. The frequency of relapse in patients with an elevated KL-6 level was higher than in those with a normal KL-6 level; however, no significant difference between the two groups was observed (p = 0.103). In conclusion, CT findings of traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion in COP patients are associated with increased serum KL-6 levels, which might be related to a relapse after treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • C-Reactive Protein