INCREASED LEVELS OF CIRCULATING INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

Objective: To determine the value of the circulating intercellular adh esion molecule (cICAM-1) as a marker for the inflammatory and fibrotic yi processes in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: We determined seru m levels of cICAM-1 and of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 33 patients with SSc. Thes e valises were compared to the concentrations of acute phase reactants and to the extent of skin involvement in diffuse and limited sclerode rma. Results: cICAM-1 was elevated in patients with diffuse SSc (498 /- 134 ng/ml) as compared with 82 healthy controls (312 +/- 71 ng/ml) (mean +/- SD, p +/- 0.0001). The elevation of cICAM-1 did not correlat e with the duration of disease, the pattern of organ manifestations or rite type of treatment. While the concentrations of acute phase prote ins were not elevated in SSc, a significant correlation between increa sed serum sIL-2R and cICAM-1 was observed. Conclusion: Increased level s of cICAM-1 indicate an activation of immune processes in SSc. The cl inical value of the cICAM-1 determination in SSc can only be judged in longitudinal studies.