Correlation between CT-based phenotypes and serum biomarker in interstitial lung diseases

Beomsu Shin et al. explored the relationship between CT-based phenotypes and serum KL-6 levels in ILD patients. Using Aview software, quantitative CT analysis evaluated reticulation, GGO, honeycombing, and consolidation, while KL-6 levels were measured with the Nanopia KL-6 assay. The study found significant correlations between KL-6 and reticulation (r = 0.567), GGO (r = 0.355), and consolidation (r = 0.446). Combined reticulation and KL-6 levels showed a strong predictive ability for respiratory hospitalizations (AUC = 0.810). KL-6 was inversely correlated with lung function metrics, including FVC and DLCO. This integrated approach offers a robust method for assessing disease severity and progression in ILD, particularly in identifying high-risk patients for early intervention. Limitations include the study's single-center nature, cross-sectional data, and heterogeneity among ILD subtypes. Future studies should focus on multi-center validation and dynamic assessments to better understand the progression of ILD.