Comprehensive biomarker analysis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease with healthy individuals

A. Balci, M.E. Düz, A. Vurmaz, Ş. Çilekar, F. Kaya

Department of Pulmonology, Medical Faculty, Afyonkarahisar University, Afyon, Turkey. draydnbalc@gmail.com

---

• Respiratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of diffuse parenchymal lung disorders that can be idiopathic [idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)] or associated with other diseases and are characterized by varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis with poor prognosis. Several indicators are essential in diagnosing these individuals and differentiating between IPF and ILD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 44 IPF patients, 22 ILD (non-IPF) patients, and 24 healthy people. We aimed to compare ILD (non-IPF) and IPF patient groups with each other and with healthy people in terms of interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-7, galectin (Gal)-3, IL-6, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), pyruvate kinase (PK), complete blood count (CBC), ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) features. Furthermore, it was intended to assess the patient groups in terms of visual semi-quantitative score (VSQS) (IPF alone), respiratory function tests (RFT), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT), also potential correlations between these tests and the previously indicated parameters.

RESULTS: MMP-1, MMP-7, Gal-3, IL-6, KL-6, forced vital capacity (FVC), % FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), % FEV1, TAS, TOS, and PK values significantly elevated in IPF and ILD. Weight, IL-1, MMP-1, MMP-7, Gal-3, IL-6, KL-6, % FVC, FEV1, % FEV1, eosinophil count, and % red blood cell distribution width (RDW) values differed between IPF and ILD. VSQS, 6MWT, and PK were substantially linked with MMP-1, MMP-7, Gal-3, IL-6, and KL-6 in IPF.

CONCLUSIONS: The factors investigated can be helpful in the diagnosis and distinction of IPF and ILD. In addition to focusing on the inflammatory environment in IPF and ILD patients, oxidant and antioxidant interactions must be studied.

Free PDF Download