Usefulness of quantifying serum KL-6 levels in the follow-up of uveitic patients with sarcoidosis

Background KL-6 is a human glycoprotein secreted by type II alveolar cells in the lung, and its serum levels increase in pneumonia of various causes. We previously reported that serum KL-6 levels in uveitis patients with sarcoidosis were significantly higher than those of other uveitis patients and healthy controls. Additionally, the combined measurement of serum KL-6 and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was useful for screening uveitic patients to diagnose sarcoidosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of quantifying serum KL-6 levels for following-up the patients with sarcoidosis.