Serum chitinase-3-like 1 protein is a useful biomarker to assess disease activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis: an observational study

Background To investigate whether serum chitinase-3-like 1 protein (YKL-40) is associated with disease activity in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods ELISA was performed in serum samples from AAV patients who were enrolled in our prospective observational cohort to estimate levels of YKL-40. Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) (version 3), five factor score (FFS), and short form-36 (SF-36), as well as clinical and laboratory data were collected. Kidney expression of YKL-40 was assessed by immunohistochemical staining using renal biopsy tissues from ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis patients (AAGN). Severe AAV and FFS were defined as BVAS ≥ 12 and FFS ≥ 2, and the correlations between laboratory variables, BVAS, FFS, and SF-36 score were assessed using linear regression analysis. The optimal cut-off of serum YKL-40 for severe AAV and high FFS was calculated using the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. Results Of the included 60 patients, 32 (53.3%), 17 (28.3%), and 11 (18.3%) were classified as microscopic polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The median BVAS and FFS were 7.0 and 1.0, whereas the mean SF-36 physical and mental component scores were 50.5 and 58.3. Serum YKL-40 level was higher in patients with severe AAV and high FFS compared to those without (p = 0.007 and p 221.3 ng/mL and > 227.1 ng/mL than those without (relative risk 2.852 and 7.000). In 12 patients with serial YKL-40 testing, 11 patients (91.7%) exhibited a reduction in serum YKL-40 levels following a decrease in disease activity (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings suggest that serum YKL-40 may be a clinically useful biomarker to assess AAV disease activity. Trial registration Retrospectively registered