INCREASE IN PLASMA THROMBOMODULIN LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH VIBRATION SYNDROME

To determine whether endothelial cells are injured in vibration syndro me, we measured plasma levels of thrombomodulin (TM) in 100 patients w ith this syndrome using one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Plasma l evel of TM in patients with vibration syndrome was significantly highe r than that in normal controls (p<0.0001). There was no significant di fference in the plasma TM level between patients with vibration syndro me and those with collagen disease. Plasma TM concentration in chain-s aw operators was significantly higher than that in rock-drill operator s (p<0.05). Plasma TM value did not significantly differ between patie nts with vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and those without VWF. T hese results suggest that endothelial injury is present in patients wi th vibration syndrome, the degree of endothelial injury in patients wi th vibration syndrome equals that in patients with collagen disease, a nd the endothelial injury in chain-saw operators is greater than that in rock-drill operators. However, there was no difference in the degre e of endothelial injury between patients with VWF and those without VW F.