Prediction Value of KREBS Von Den Lungen-6 (KL-6) Biomarker in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 11; no. 21; p. 6600
• Main Authors: Matuszewski, Michal, Szarpak, Lukasz, Rafique, Zubaid, Peacock, Frank W, Pruc, Michal, Szwed, Piotr, Chirico, Francesco, Navolokina, Alla, Ladny, Jerzy R, Denegri, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 07.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Bias; biomarker; Biomarkers; Clinical medicine; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease; Krebs von den Lungen-6; Medical prognosis; Meta-analysis; Pandemics; Pneumonia; Respiratory distress syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; severity; Software; Systematic review; COVID-19; severity; SARS-CoV-2; biomarker; Krebs von den Lungen-6
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216600

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major issue that necessitates the use of cutting-edge disease prediction models. The aim of the study was to assess the existing evidence regarding association between Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels and COVID-19 severity. A literature search was performed on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from 1 January 2020 up to 2 August 2022. The electronic database search was supplemented by searching Google Scholar. In addition, reference lists of relative articles were also reviewed. KL-6 levels among COVID-19 positive vs. negative patients varied and amounted to 443.37 ± 249.33 vs. 205.73 ± 86.8 U/mL (MD = 275.33; 95%CI: 144.57 to 406.09; p < 0.001). The KL-6 level was 402.82 ± 261.16 U/mL in the severe group and was statistically significantly higher than in the non-severe group (297.38 ± 90.46 U/mL; MD = 192.45; 95%CI: 118.19 to 266.72; p < 0.001). The KL-6 level in the mild group was 272.28 ± 95.42 U/mL, compared to 268.04 ± 55.04 U/mL in the moderate COVID-19 group (MD = −12.58; 95%CI: −21.59 to −3.57; p = 0.006). Our meta-analysis indicates a significant association between increased KL-6 levels and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, KL-6 levels are significantly higher in patients with a more severe course of COVID-19, indicating that KL-6 may be a useful predictor to identify patients at risk for severe COVID-19.