Soluble adhesion molecules and anti-endothelial cell antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by peripheral neuropathy

Objective. To examine whether levels of soluble adhesion molecules and anti -endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) complicated by peripheral neuropathy compared to controls with no neuro logical complications. Methods, Levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), sE- selectin, and AECA were determined by ELISA in 33 patients with RA neuropat hy, 23 patients with vasculitis who had no neurological complications, 29 p atients with RA without neuropathy, and 25 healthy volunteer controls. Results, The patients with neuropathy had significantly higher levels of se rum sVCAM-1 (mean 1119 +/- 368 ng/ml) than patients without neuropathy (mea n 869 +/- 214 ng/ml) and healthy controls (mean 578 +/- 204 ng/ml). Serum l evels of sE-selectin were higher among neuropathic patients with RA (mean 7 3 +/- 34 ng/ml) than RA controls (mean 45 +/- 27 ng/ml) and healthy control s (mean 32 +/- 10 ng/ml). There was no significant difference in serum leve ls of sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, and AECA between patients with RA with neuropat hy and patients with vasculitis uncomplicated by neurological disease. Abno rmal levels of sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, or AECA were found in sera from 28 (85 %) patients with RA neuropathy, 15 (65%) patients with vasculitis, 9 (31%) RA controls, and 2 (8%) healthy controls. Conclusion. Serum levels of sVCAM-I, sE-selectin, and AECA are higher in pa tients with RA neuropathy than in patients with RA uncomplicated by neurolo gical disease. These data suggest that development of peripheral neuropathy in RA is associated with increased endothelial cell activation.