Journal of internal medicine
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients show high levels of circulating mucin including KL-6/MUC1 (soluble MUC1 mucin). Because cancer mucin can bind vascular endothelial cells and platelets via selectins, mucin-selectin interactions are reported to trigger platelet aggregation and intravascular coagulation. Therefore, we hypothesized that KL-6/MUC1 is involved in the pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in ARDS. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the association between circulating KL-6/MUC1 and DIC in ARDS patients. ⋯ These results suggest that KL-6/MUC1 is associated with DIC development in ARDS patients. Elevated levels of KL-6/MUC1 at diagnosis could be a predictor of DIC complication in ARDS.