Sarcoidosis Vasc Dif
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Sarcoidosis Vasc Dif · Jul 2009
Comparative StudySurfactant protein-D predicts survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease with a high mortality rate. As lung transplantation is the only therapeutic option, it is important to predict survival. ⋯ The measurement of surfactant protein-D in serum of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis might be a clinically relevant tool to predict survival.
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Carbohydrate antigen CA 15-3 is a glycoprotein whose expression, aberrant intracellular localization and changes in glycosylation have been associated with a wide range of cancers. Pulmonary fibrosis represents the final evolution of a chronic inflammation and is defined by the overgrowth of fibroblasts and exaggerated extracellular matrix deposition. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible diagnostic role of CA 15-3 in fibrosis in different idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. ⋯ Our results indicate that increased CA 15-3 levels are associated with pulmonary interstitial damage, fibroblast activity and progression to fibrosis of the lung. Therefore, CA-15-3 may be considered a sensitive marker useful in the identification of patients with advanced fibrosis and more severe prognosis.