In:
Disease Markers, Hindawi Limited, Vol. 2020 ( 2020-05-12), p. 1-8
Abstract:
Background . Few biomarkers are available for early identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SS) and scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD). Aims . To evaluate Gas6, sAxl, and sMer as biomarkers for cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD. Methods . In a cross-sectional observational study, we recruited 125 consecutive patients, affected by SS and SSD and referred to a tertiary-level pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinic. All patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation for identification of PAH and ILD. Gas6, sMer, and sAxl concentrations were measured with ELISA protocols, and concentrations were compared according to PAH or ILD. Results . Nineteen subjects had pulmonary hypertension (PH) (14 PAH), and 39 had ILD (6 severe). Plasma sMer was increased in PAH (18.6 ng/ml IQR [11.7-20.3]) with respect to the absence (12.4 [8.0-15.8] ) or other form of pulmonary hypertension (9.6 [7.4-12.5]; K–W variance p 〈 0.04 ). Conversely, Gas6 and sAxl levels were slightly increased in mild ILD (25.8 ng/ml [19.5-32.1] and 24.6 [20.1-32.5] ) and reduced in severe ILD (16.6 [15.0-22.1] and 15.5 [14.9-22.4] ) in comparison to no evidence of ILD (23.4 [18.8-28.1] and 21.6 [18.1-28.4] ; K–W, p ≤ 0.05 ). Plasma sMer ≥ 19 ng / ml has 50% sensitivity and 92% specificity in PAH identification (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.697, p 〈 0.03 ). Values of Gas 6 ≤ 24.5 ng / ml and of sAxl ≤ 15.5 ng / ml have 100% and 67% sensitivity and 47% and 86% specificity, respectively, in identifying severe ILD (Gas6 AUC 0.787, p 〈 0.001 ; sAxl AUC 0.705, p 〈 0.05 ). Conclusions . The assay of Gas6 sAxl and sMer may be useful to help in the identification of PAH and ILD in SS and SSD patients. The Gas6/TAM system seems to be relevant in cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD and merits further investigations.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0278-0240
,
1875-8630
DOI:
10.1155/2020/2696173
Language:
English
Publisher:
Hindawi Limited
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2033253-1
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