CORRELATION OF SOLUBLE ADHESION MOLECULES IN BLOOD AND CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID WITH MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

Several studies have reported a positive correlation between levels of soluble adhesion molecules in serum or cerebrospinal fluid and crania l MRI activity We Performed a cross-sectional study in 46 patients wit h newly diagnosed MS and determined levels of soluble intercellular ad hesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) as well as vascular cell adhesion molecule -1 (sVCAM-1) in correlation to the number and area of gadolinium enhan cing lesions on cranial magnetic resonance images (MRI). The data reve aled a significant positive correlation between sVCAM-1 serum levels a nd gadolinium enhancing lesions. In addition, CSF to serum ratios for sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 correlated to MRI activity. In patients with a sin gle enhancing lesion (SEL) there was a negative correlation between th e QsCAM and the distance of the SEL to the ventricles. As these adhesi on molecules are stable and markers of disease activity in MS, we furt her investigated sVCAM-1 serum levels during treatment with interferon beta-Ib (Betaferon(R)). Significant increases in serum levels for sVC AM-1 in patients receiving Betaferon were associated with a favourable treatment response after 1 year in 17 out of 19 patients and correlat ed to decreased MRI activity, whereas stable or reduced sVCAM-1 levels occured more often in non-responders (five out of six patients). Ther efore it can be hypothezised that soluble adhesion molecules ore relea sed from cerebral endothelial cells as on early immunoregulatory activ ity of the immune system to reduce cellular traffic across the blood b rain barrier and this is further enhanced by IFN-beta treatment.