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Serum KL-6, a novel mucin-like glycoprotein, as an indicator of interstitial pneumonitis following lobectomy

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Abstract

Serum KL-6 has been shown to be a useful marker of active interstitial pneumonitis in patients who have not undergone lobectomy. Considering that KL-6 is produced mainly in the distal airway epithelium, the present study was conducted to determine whether resected lung volume influenced the postoperative KL-6 levels, and also to evaluate whether it is a useful parameter in patients who have undergone lobectomy. The serum KL-6 levels decreased by 36% 1 week after lobectomy, but returned to the preoperative levels by 2 months postoperatively. Although the KL-6 levels increased by 100% 3 to 4 months after lobectomy, the levels were significantly lower than those in interstitial pneumonitis (P<0.05). The decrease in the KL-6 levels correlated with the number of resected lung segments, but not with the changes in white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase level, or C-reactive protein level. In comparison with the lobectomy patients, the serum KL-6 levels decreased by half in patients who had undergone partial resection (P<0.05). The results of this study suggest that the serum KL-6 level may be a useful indicator of interstitial pneumonitis after lobectomy. Serum KL-6 levels are influenced by the volume of the resected lung, and probably also by the upregulation of KL-6 production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan

    Tsutomu Sakuma, Keiji Takahashi & Nobuo Ohya

  2. Department of Surgery, Sendai Kosei Hospital, 4-15 Hirosemachi, Aoba-ku, 980, Sendai, Japan

    Katsuo Usuda & Masashi Handa

Authors
  1. Tsutomu Sakuma
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  2. Keiji Takahashi
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  3. Nobuo Ohya
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  4. Katsuo Usuda
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  5. Masashi Handa
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Sakuma, T., Takahashi, K., Ohya, N. et al. Serum KL-6, a novel mucin-like glycoprotein, as an indicator of interstitial pneumonitis following lobectomy. Surg Today 29, 121–128 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482236

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482236

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