Serum KL-6 level is elevated in chronic hepatitis C patients with combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not combination therapy of pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis (CH) C patients enhances the serum level of KL-6, a sensitive marker for interstitial pneumonia.


METHODS
CH C patients proven histologically and treated with combination therapy of pegylated IFN-alpha-2b and ribavirin, IFN monotherapy or untreated for 48 weeks were retrospectively selected in chronological order in groups of 25. Serum levels of KL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by use of serum stored at -80 degrees C before and at 12, 24, 36, 48 weeks after the initiation of treatment or follow up.


RESULTS
The average serum KL-6 levels in patients treated with combination therapy of pegylated IFN and ribavirin increased by 21% at 12 weeks after the start, 23% at 24 weeks, and 28% at 48 weeks. In patients treated with combination therapy of pegylated IFN and ribavirin, the serum KL-6 level significantly increased during treatment. Patients achieved an elevated serum KL-6 level of more than 450 U/ml with statistical significance when: 1) combination therapy was given (P=0.011), 2) serum KL-6 level pretreatment was high more than 300 U/ml (P=0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that onset of interstitial pneumonia should be carefully checked in the combination therapy of pegylated-IFN and ribavirin.
Department of Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo. es9y-ars@asahi-net.or.jp
Yasuji
Y
Arase
Kenji
K
Ikeda
Yoshiyuki
Y
Suzuki
Masahiro
M
Kobayashi
Fumitaka
F
Suzuki
Norio
N
Akuta
Hitomi
H
Sezaki
Tetsuya
T
Hosaka
Hiromi
H
Yatsuji
Yusuke
Y
Kawamura
Mariko
M
Kobayashi
Hiromitsu
H
Kumada
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins / Q000097:blood*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b