The role of serum KL-6 measurement in common pediatric respiratory infections

• Published in: Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 22 - 24
• Main Authors: Kubota, Masaru, Haruta, Tsunekazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antigens, Neoplasm; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Chlamydia; Humans; Infant; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - blood; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; KL-6; Leukocyte Count; Measles - blood; Measles - diagnosis; Measles virus; Mucin-1; Mucins - blood; Mycoplasma; Oxygen - metabolism; Prospective Studies; Respiratory infection; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - blood; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - diagnosis; Respiratory Tract Infections - blood; Respiratory Tract Infections - diagnosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; KL-6; Respiratory syncytial virus; Children; Influenza virus; Respiratory infection; Measles virus
• ISSN: 1341-321X; 1437-7780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10156-005-0416-9

KL-6 is a useful marker for interstitial pneumonia of various origins. However, the role of KL-6 in common pediatric respiratory infections is largely unknown. In order to determine whether the KL-6 level is elevated during respiratory infection, and whether KL-6 is a useful biomarker for the disease activity, we evaluated serum KL-6 levels in 132 children with various respiratory infections. KL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with measles, influenza, or respiratory syncytial virus infection than in the control subjects. On the other hand, KL-6 levels in patients with bacterial infections such as mycoplasma, chlamydia, or pertussis were comparable to the control values. In patients with viral infections, high KL-6 levels, as defined by the mean plus 2 standard deviations of the control group, significantly correlated with low SpO2 or days of O2 administration, but did not correlate with C-reactive protein or white blood cell counts. These results indicate that measurement of serum KL-6 levels is helpful for the management of common pediatric respiratory infections.