ELEVATION OF SERUM-SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 (SICAM-1) AND BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN IN SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disease which is believed to be immunologically mediated. It is marked by inflammation and dest ruction of the salivary glands and lacrimal glands. We have found sign ificantly higher serum levels of sICAM-1 and beta-2-microglobulin in b oth primary Sjogren's syndrome patients (429.1 +/- 114.33 ng/ml, 4.4 /- 1.5 ug/ml resp.) and secondary Sjogren's syndrome patients (424 +/- 140.73 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 2.67 ug/ml resp.) in comparison with healthy co ntrols (189.1 +/- 42.34 ng/ml, 1.3 +/- 0.38 ug/ml resp.). The serum le vel of beta-2-microglobulin was significantly correlated with the seru m level of sICAM-1 in secondary Sjogren's syndrome patients' group.