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YKL-40 as a new biomarker of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis
Ying Sun1, Xiufang Kong1, Sifan Wu1
1Department of Rheumatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
Insights
YKL-40 shows promise as a biomarker for Takayasu arteritis (TA) disease activity. Elevated YKL-40 levels, particularly with IL-6, improve detection of active TA, aiding clinical management.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting large arteries.
- Accurate assessment of TA disease activity is crucial for effective treatment and patient outcomes.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for TA disease activity remains an ongoing challenge in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of YKL-40 as a biomarker for assessing disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).
- To evaluate the association between serum YKL-40 levels and other inflammatory markers with TA disease activity.
- To determine if YKL-40 can improve the diagnostic accuracy of predictive models for active TA.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 40 TA patients and 40 healthy controls were analyzed for YKL-40 and other inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-8, etc.).
- Disease activity was assessed using modified Kerr criteria with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
- Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed to correlate biomarker levels with disease activity.
Main Results:
- Serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in patients with active TA compared to inactive disease.
- Elevated YKL-40 and IL-6 were identified as independent risk factors for active TA.
- Combining YKL-40 with IL-6 or CRP enhanced diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for active TA.
- Adding YKL-40 to a predictive model significantly improved its diagnostic efficiency for active TA.
Conclusions:
- Serum YKL-40 is a potential biomarker for monitoring disease activity in Takayasu arteritis.
- YKL-40, especially in combination with other markers like IL-6, offers improved accuracy in detecting active TA.
- Further research may establish YKL-40 as a valuable tool in the clinical management of TA.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of YKL-40 as a biomarker of disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).
Methods:
The study included 40 patients diagnosed with TA between January 2017 and January 2018. 40 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. Serum levels of YKL-40, as well as IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, sCD163, VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, OPN, PTX-3 and IFN-γ, were detected at the base line and end of the 6-month follow-up. Modified Kerr criteria, in which MRA was performed instead of traditional angiography, was used a standard measure of disease activity. The association of the measured biomarkers with disease activity was analysed.
Results:
The serum levels of YKL-40, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, MMP-2, MMP-9, PTX-3 and OPN were significantly higher in active disease than in inactive disease. Significant differences in the serum levels of YKL-40, IL-6 and PTX-3 were also observed according to the disease activity degree. Logistic analysis demonstrated that high YKL-40 levels and high IL-6 levels were independent risk factors for active disease. When YKL-40 was combined with IL-6, the specificity and sensitivity for detecting active disease were increased (87.6% and 70.4% respectively); similar findings were obtained when YKL-40 was combined with CRP (72.3% and 84.6% respectively). A predictive model of active disease using ESR, CRP, IL-6, PTX-3 and MMP-9 showed significantly improved diagnostic efficiency when YKL-40 was added to the model (sensitivity: 85.1%; specificity: 94.3%; NRI value: 12.4%; IDI value: 4.6%, p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Serum YKL-40 concentrations may be a useful biomarker of disease activity in TA.
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