CORRELATION BETWEEN CLINICAL-FEATURES AND CIRCULATING LEVELS OF SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN HODGKINS-DISEASE

Previous reports have suggested soluble intercellular adhesion molecul e-1 as a marker of disease activity in Hodgkin's disease. In the prese nt study we investigated serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecu le-1 at diagnosis in 104 patients with Hodgkin's disease and in 77 of these patients following the achievement of complete remission (within 12 months of diagnosis). Mean serum levels at diagnosis were signific antly higher in patients than in controls (P<0.0001) and were related to advanced stages of disease (P=<0.0001), presence of ''B'' symptoms (P<0.0001), abnormality of laboratory indexes (P<0.0001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (r=0.41, P<0.0001) and serum levels of solub le interleukin-2 receptor a chain (r=0.51, P<0.0001). Mean values in c omplete remission were significantly lower than at diagnosis (P=0.003) . Lower mean values at diagnosis were detected in 30 patients with adv anced disease who attained complete remission, compared with 6 patient s who failed to attain complete remission with standard treatment. We conclude that in Hodgkin's disease, high serum levels of soluble inter cellular adhesion molecule-1 are detectable at presentation and strict ly correlate with some clinical features. Response to treatment is par alleled by reduced serum levels. Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate the possible prognostic significance of serum levels of s oluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 at diagnosis.