SOLUBLE L-SELECTIN IN THE CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASES

Plasma levels of the leucocyte adhesion molecule L-selection were meas ured by ELISA in 41 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 18 with ankylo sing spondylitis, 18 with systemic sclerosis and 27 with vasculitis to gether with 42 age- and sex-matched controls. Low levels of soluble L- selectin were found in systemic sclerosis (797+/-302 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and vasculitis (941+/-329 ng/ml, P < 0.05) relative to controls (1244/-269 ng/ml). The exact reasons for low levels of soluble L-selectin a re unclear, but may reflect reduced shedding from leucocytes and/or st rong binding to its cell membrane ligand(s). An approximate inverse re lationship between soluble L-selectin and disease severity may have cl inical relevance.