Increased levels of soluble forms of adhesion molecules in Takayasu arteritis

The present series of experiments were designed to determine if soluble for ms of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and inter cellular adhesion molecul e-1 are elevated in the setting of Takayasu arteritis. Plasma levels of the se soluble adhesion molecules were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 73 Takayasu arteritis and 36 age-matched normal controls and exami ned with respect to the age of patients. Soluble vascular cell adhesion mol ecule-1 levels were significantly higher in Takayasu arteritis (mean 871.4 ng/ml, P <0.01) compared with controls (mean 607.9 ng/ml). No difference wa s found in soluble inter cellular adhesion molecule-1 levels between these two groups. Comparison of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and int er cellular adhesion molecule-1 in these patients subdivided by age into th ree groups indicated significantly higher levels of these molecules in indi viduals over 50 years old compared to those under 39 years old (P <0.05). T hese data suggest that the measurement of soluble vascular cell adhesion mo lecule-1 may be clinically important in Takayasu arteritis. The correlation of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and inter cellular adhesion m olecule-1 levels with age may indicate some relationship with progression o f this disease. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.