title: Serum KL-6 in adult patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum levels of KL-6, a mucin-like high-molecular-weight glycoprotein, in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 42 adult PM/DM patients and 38 healthy control subjects were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of KL-6 in the PM/DM patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The elevated serum KL-6 levels correlated with the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and decreased percentage diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (%DLco) in the PM/DM patients. The serum KL-6 levels inversely correlated with %DLco and percentage vital capacity. Additionally, the serum KL-6 levels were elevated in five of the seven DM patients with malignant neoplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the serum KL-6 level might be a useful serum marker for ILD and internal malignancy in PM/DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006023:Glycoproteins; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins