SERUM-SOLUBLE VASCULAR-CELL ADHESION MOLECULE-1 (VCAM-1) IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASES

Our aim was to ascertain the degree of variation of serum soluble vasc ular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) concentrations according to the nature and the severity of an underlying liver disease. One-hundred f orty sera collected from 123 patients (83 male, 40 female) with acute hepatitis (n=14), mild chronic liver disease (n=52) or cirrhosis (n=57 ) of different etiologies as well as from 17 healthy blood donors (8 m ale, 9 female) were studied. Soluble VCAM-1 concentration was measured immunoenzymatically. One-way analysis of variance revealed a signific ant variability of the mean values of soluble VCAM-1 among groups (F=8 0.02, p <0.0001). All groups of patients had higher soluble VCAM-1 tha n controls; moreover, patients with acute hepatitis and patients with cirrhosis had higher soluble VCAM-1 levels than patients with mild chr onic liver disease (Bonferroni's test, p <0.01). These results did not change after stratification of patients according to the etiology (vi ral or toxic) of liver disease (two-way analysis of variance: grouping factor diagnosis, F=60.39, p <0.0001; grouping factor etiology, F=1.7 3, p NS). Cholinesterase, total bilirubin, circulating thrombocytes an d blood urea nitrogen were the independent predictors of the concentra tion of soluble VCAM-1. In conclusion, patients with liver disease hav e high serum soluble VCAM-1, which seems to reflect more the severity of impairment of liver function rather than the etiologic nature of th e disease.