Background
KL-6 is a biomarker of the severity of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). We noticed a significant difference in the mean serum KL-6 level between Japanese and Caucasian patients. To assess the clinical value of serum KL-6 in Chinese PAP patients, and to compare the differences in serum KL-6 levels in Chinese patients and patients of other ethnicities.
Conclusions
Serum KL-6 can be used as a biological indicator for disease monitoring in Chinese patients. The difference in serum KL-6 level among Chinese, German, and Japanese PAP patients may be associated with the distribution of the rs4072037 genotype.
Methods
From 2014-2016, we prospectively examined 37 Chinese Han patients with PAP, measured their serum KL-6 levels, evaluated the correlation between initial KL-6 levels and clinical variables, and compared our
Results
Initial serum KL-6 levels were significantly correlated with baseline PaO2, A-aDO2, DLCO, FVC, and LDH levels (all P<0.001). Compared with Chinese PAP patients, the mean serum KL-6 level was significantly lower in German PAP patients (P<0.001) but not in Japanese PAP patients (P>0.4). In the rs4072037 allele frequency distributions, the frequency of the A/A genotype was significantly higher while that of the G/G genotype was significantly lower in Chinese and Japanese cohorts than in Caucasian cohorts (both P<0.001). Conclusions: Serum KL-6 can be used as a biological indicator for disease monitoring in Chinese patients. The difference in serum KL-6 level among Chinese, German, and Japanese PAP patients may be associated with the distribution of the rs4072037 genotype.