SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 AND PROCOLLAGEN-III PEPTIDEARE RELIABLE MARKERS OF DISEASE SEVERITY IN PSORIASIS

Levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and proc ollagen III peptide (PIIIP) were measured respectively by enzyme immun oassay (EIA) and radioimmunoassay (RW) methods in sera from 14 patient s affected with psoriasis. The same determinations were also performed on suction blister fluids (BFs) obtained from lesional and non-lesion al skin. Fourteen normal subjects were used as controls. Significant c orrelations were found between the serum levels and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), (R = 0.62 for sICAM-1 and R = 0.73 for PIIIp, respectively). Of the PASI components, infiltration and erythema repre sented the variables most closely related to PIIIP (R = 0.85; R = 0.72 respectively). Differently from PIIIP, whose levels were significantl y lower in the sera than in skin BFs (serum: median value 1.05, range 0.7-2.3 vs. lesional skin fluid: 11.8, 4.8-30 U/ml), sICAM-1 molecules were found predominantly in the sera (serum: median 316, range 117-57 9 vs lesional skin fluid: median 70, range 31-252 ng/ml). These data c annot exclude that sICAM-1 molecules detected in suction BFs may deriv e from serum contamination.