Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels correlate with disease severity and 1-year survival across different interstitial lung diseases subtypes
Authors' conclusion
Serum CEA levels are associated with disease severity and 1-year mortality across ILD subtypes, supporting its potential as a reliable prognostic biomarker.
Study context
- Population
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients treated at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, 2014–2022
- Participants
- 1,209 patients
- Exposure
- Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels vs 1-year mortality and disease severity across ILD subtypes
- Outcome
- 1-year mortality
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailspopulation-based, single-centre, Cox regression, ROC analysis
- Population-based
- Single-centre
- Cox regression
- ROC analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
1-year mortality per elevated CEA (adjusted for age, sex, smoking history and CPI)
Hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
IPF
1.118(1.031–1.212)
P = 0.007IIM-ILD
1.225(1.160–1.293)
P < 0.001pSS-ILD
1.295(1.091–1.538)
P = 0.003Per elevated CEA, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
1-year mortality with CEA ≥2.835 ng/ml, by ILD subtype
| HR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CEA ≥2.835 ng/ml (IPF) | 3.230 (1.492–6.994) | P = 0.003 | |
| CEA ≥2.835 ng/ml (IIM-ILD) | 13.022 (5.272–32.165) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.050.21520Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Correlation of serum CEA with composite physiological index (CPI), by ILD subtype
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): r = 0.170, P = 0.007
- IIM-ILD: r = 0.222, P < 0.001
- pSS-ILD: r = 0.179, P < 0.001
- Undifferentiated connective tissue disease-associated ILD: r = 0.146, P = 0.042
Serum CEA in acute exacerbations of IPF (subgroup analysis)
- Higher CEA in acute exacerbations of IPF: 5.44 vs 2.49 ng/ml, P = 0.009
Serum CEA in anti-MDA5-positive IIM-ILD (subgroup analysis)
- Higher CEA in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5-positive IIM-ILD: 3.62 vs 1.47 ng/ml, P < 0.001
Serum CEA in rapidly progressive IIM-ILD (subgroup analysis)
- Higher CEA in rapidly progressive IIM-ILD: 4.88 vs 1.48 ng/ml, P < 0.001
Original publication
Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels correlate with disease severity and 1-year survival across different interstitial lung diseases subtypes. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 17 November 2025. doi:10.
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