ELEVATION OF SOLUBLE ADHESION MOLECULES IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF MYOCARDIAL DAMAGE IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

In 20 patients with acute mycardial infarction, blood samples were tak en to study the serial changes in the soluble intercellular adhesion m olecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. Results indicated that soluble ICAM-1 increased significa ntly and persisted throughout the study period; however, soluble E-sel ectin was significantly elevated only transiently and decreased rapidl y thereafter, and the VCAM-1 did not increase during entire study peri od. There was a significant correlation between the levels of ICAM-1, E-selectin 6 hours after admission, and peak creatine kinase level; th e levels of ICAM-1 and E-selectin were also positively correlated with total leukocyte count at admission.