title: Serum Clara cell 16-kDa protein levels and lung impairment in systemic sclerosis patients.
abstract: To assess clinical utility of serum Clara cell 16-kDa protein measurements in relation with staging system for systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease.
  
  
  
  Serum levels of Clara cell 16-kDa protein were determined by ELISA in 28 systemic sclerosis patients and 30 healthy controls, and correlated with staging system for systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis patients. Lung involvement was assessed functionally (body plethysmography, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) and radiologically (an average disease extent on high resolution computed tomography of the lungs) in SSc patients.
  
  
  
  We observed statistically significant differences in serum Clara cell 16-kDa protein levels between systemic sclerosis patients and healthy controls only in non-smokers. However, serum Clara cell 16-kDa protein concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with high resolution computed tomography extent >20% in comparison to patients with high resolution computed tomography extent <20% (p=0.01). They correlated positively with average disease extent on high resolution computed tomography (p=0.04), an extent of a reticular pattern on high resolution computed tomography (p<0.01), and negatively with a total lung capacity (p=0.03) and the results of the 6-min walk test (p<0.01).
  
  
  
  Clara cell 16-kDa protein levels can be considered as a supplemental serum biomarker for systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: anolegaw@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olewicz-Gawlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trzybulska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Pulmonary Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuznar-Kaminska
authors.affiliation: Department of General Radiology and Neuroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katulska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danczak-Pazdrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Pulmonary Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Batura-Gabryel
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrycaj
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins
keywords: CC16; Doença intersticial pulmonar; Esclerose sistêmica; Interstitial lung disease; Systemic sclerosis