Detection of Interstitial Pneumonitis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Measuring Circulating Levels of KL-6, a Human MUC1 Mucin

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), interstitial-pneumonitis is one of the major extraarticular complications that worsens a patient's prognosis. KL-6, a human MUC1 mucin, has been reported to be a sensitive serum marker for activity of interstitial pneumonitis. We investigated the clinical significance of serum KL-6 level in patients with RA. Serum levels of KL-6 and RA-associated inflammatory markers were evaluated in 177 RA patients. The diagnosis...