Vol.22 No.1

Case Report

Elevation of serum KL-6 levels in 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with adalimumab

Authors

Masahito Koiwa1 , Susumu Goto1 , Kenji Takenouchi2 , Kenji Takahasi2 , Toshikazu Kamada3 , Hiroshi Nakamura2

  • Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shuwa General Hospital, 1200, Yawarasinden, Kasukabe, Saitama, 344-0035, Japan
  • Department of Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan
  • Hara Orthopaedic Hospital, 3-36-23, Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0021, Japan
Received:

23 February 2011

Accepted:

27 May 2011

Published online:

20 July 2011

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Abstract

We describe 3 cases of rheumatoid arthritis presenting with elevated serum KL-6 levels during treatment with adalimumab, which was discontinued because of suspected onset of complications. However, no complications were observed following discontinuation despite comprehensive assessments, and KL-6 levels subsequently returned to baseline levels. In our institutes, 3 out of 29 cases treated with adalimumab showed elevated KL-6 levels. The baseline levels were 445, 347, and 547 U/ml, while the peak levels were 1010, 546, and 2007 U/ml, respectively. The elevated KL-6 levels seem to have been innocuous; nevertheless, further careful observation is deemed necessary.

Key words

Adalimumab - Adverse effects - KL-6 - Rheumatoid arthritis