Combined use of serum KL-6 and respiratory functional parameters for identifying fibrotic lung damage in SARS-CoV-2-induced interstitial pneumonia.

KL-6 levels are not significantly elevated in patients undergoing IMV, indicating that IMV per se does not alter the values of this biomarker, thereby further supporting its reliability in detecting PCPF. Our study proposed a combination of KL-6 values and clinical data may lead to a further improvement in diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic and secondary to COVID19.