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YKL-40 seen as promising biomarker for polymyositis, dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease
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YKL-40 could serve as a biomarker for patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease, according to a recently published study.
“Together, these findings suggest that YKL-40 is a promising non-invasive biomarker for evaluating disease activity/severity, predicting prognosis and clarifying the pathogenesis of [polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease] PM/DM-ILD,” Hironao Hozumi, MD, PhD, from the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.
Researchers assessed 69 with PM/DM-ILD and 34 healthy controls. They found serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in patients with PM/DM-ILD compared with controls. In addition, serum YKL-40 was linked with arterial oxygen pressure in these patients. Furthermore, higher serum YKL-40 and lower percent-predicted forced vital capacity were both linked with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed YKL-40 expression was heightened in aggregated intra-alveolar macrophages and hyperproliferative alveolar epithelial cells in patients with PM/DM-ILD.
“Therefore, a prospective, multicenter study is needed to validate the clinical and pathophysiological utility of serum YKL-40 in PM/DM-ILD,” the researchers wrote. – by Will Offit
Disclosure: The researchers report support from a grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
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