Post-Infectious Bronchiolitis Obliterans in Children: Long-Term Outcome, Prognostic Factors, and Relation with Serum KL-6 Levels

Abstract

Background: Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is a rare form of chronic obstructive lung disease in children, with insufficient data on the factors that predict the prognosis of PIBO. Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the long-term outcome of PIBO patients, evaluate prognostic factors, and investigate the relation between serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) level and disease severity. Methods: Thirty-eight children with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of PIBO were enrolled on this study. Information was obtained from medical records regarding the clinical characteristics related to the first severe lung infection, the patient's clinical presentation at PIBO diagnosis, treatment, and overall outcome. The clinical conditions of the patients at the time of their PIBO diagnosis and at their last follow-up admission were evaluated using the clinical severity score (CSS). Samples for serum KL-6 level were obtained in 36 PIBO and 42 control group patients. The association of K...