SERUM LEVELS OF SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 AND SOLUBLEVASCULAR CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN LIVER-DISEASE, AND THEIR CHANGESBY TREATMENT WITH INTERFERON

Serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) an d soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with chronic hepatit is (n = 57), liver cirrhosis (n = 19) and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 33). Serum levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly higher i n liver disease than those in controls (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0005, res pectively). A total of 22 patients with chronic hepatitis C were treat ed with interferon. Pretreatment levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were no t significantly different between complete responders and non-responde rs. In complete responders, serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels 1 year af ter interferon treatment significantly decreased compared to the pretr eatment levels (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively). Post-treatment levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in complete responders were also signifi cantly lower than those in nonresponders (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, resp ectively). This suggests that monitoring soluble adhesion molecules mi ght be useful in the follow-up of patients with liver disease.