Performance of Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers and Krebs von den Lungen 6 for Predicting Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Key Points

• The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of KL-6 and CRP as biomarkers for predicting progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).
• Analyzed baseline KL-6 and CRP levels in SSc-ILD patients.
• Monitored changes in KL-6 levels over six months.
• Identified subsets of patients based on biomarker levels.
• Elevated baseline KL-6 levels are linked to a higher risk of progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
• Significant increases in KL-6 over six months correlate with further risk of PPF.
• Distinct patient subsets were identified based on KL-6 and CRP values.