SOLUBLE E-SELECTIN, OTHER MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE SEVERITY IN CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are membrane-bound adhesio n molecules which mediate the attachment of leucocytes to endothelial cells. These molecules are preferentially expressed on activated endot helium. The soluble forms of these molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin , sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) are present in the circulation as a result of s hedding. Some of the soluble adhesion molecules have been thought to r eflect disease activity in atopic dermatitis (AD). To evaluate their p otential to reflect disease activity in AD, we correlated their plasma concentration with clinical severity measured by objective SCORAD (SC ORing Atopic Dermatitis). Furthermore, levels of total IgE, specific I gE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were determined. SCORAD and sE-selectin levels were significantly increased in children with speci fic IgE for both food and inhalation allergens (P<0.05). ECP consisten tly showed an increase with the scores of SCORAD, but no statistical s ignificance was reached. Disease activity was significantly correlated with the plasma levels of sE-selectin (r(s) = 0.6, P<0.0005) but not with sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. This agrees with recent studies performed in adults with AD, and supports the potential of sE-selecti n as a parameter for monitoring disease activity in young children wit h AD.