Laboratory testing evidenced elevated IL-6 levels among PF-ILD patients as compared to non-PF-ILD patients (9.7 ± 10.3 pg/ml vs. 4.56 ± 3.8 pg/ml; p = 0.003) and controls (6.8 ± 1.8 pg/ml; p = 0.002; Fig 2). Here, IL6 is linked to interstitial lung disease.