title: The role of serum KL-6 measurement in common pediatric respiratory infections.
abstract: 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 SpO(2) or days of O(2) 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kobe City General Hospital, 4-6 Minatojima-nakamachi, Kobe 650-0046, Japan. mkubota@kcgh.gr.jp
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Tsunekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haruta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010100:Oxygen