ELEVATED SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH POLYMYALGIA-RHEUMATICA - INFLUENCE OF STEROID TREATMENT

Objective. To determine the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhe sion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR ) and/or giant cell arteritis (GCA) prior and during steroid therapy. Methods. Sixteen patients with PMR and/or GCA had complete clinical an d laboratory investigations at diagnosis before treatment and 9 patien ts were followed during 6 months of steroid therapy. Serum sICAM-1 lev els were measured by ELISA. Results. Serum ICAM-1 levels were higher i n the patient group compared to a control population. No significant c orrelation was found between serum sICAM-1 levels and other indices of disease activity. After steroid administration, a dramatic fall in se rum sICAM-1 levels was observed at the end of the first week and persi sted until the end of the study period, paralleling clinical and labor atory disease remission. Conclusion. Serum sICAM-1 levels paralleled d isease activity in PMR and/or GCA. Steroid treatment induced a rapid n ormalization of the serum sICAM-1 levels.