INCREASED LEVELS OF CIRCULATING INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED SCLERODERMA

Background: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is important in immune-mediated mechanisms, and its circulating form (cICAM-1) may be an indicator of immune activation. Localized scleroderma is accompani ed by various immunologic abnormalities. Objective: We investigated wh ether the serum level of cICAM-1 in patients with localized scleroderm a was elevated and was correlated with the clinical or serologic featu res of this disease. Methods: Serum cICAM-1 levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 48 patients with localized scl eroderma, in 20 patients with systemic sclerosis, and in 20 healthy co ntrol subjects. Results: Serum levels of cICAM-1 were significantly hi gher in patients with localized scleroderma than in the healthy contro l subjects. These levels correlated with the number of lesions, the nu mber of involved areas, levels of antihistone antibody IgM, and levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor. Conclusion: The results suggest th at immune activation may be a factor in localized scleroderma.