SOLUBLE CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES - P-SELECTIN AND ICAM-1, AND DISEASE-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS RECEIVING SULFASALAZINE FOR ACTIVE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The aim of this pilot study was to examine soluble cell adhesion molec ules before and after sulphasalazine (SSZ) therapy in active RA. Asses sment of RA patients (n = 13) was undertaken before and after 3 months of SSZ. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sP- and sE-selectin were measured using an ELISA. The mean (+/- SEM) C-reactive protein (CRP) and sP-selectin lev els were significantly reduced from 3.9(0.89) to 2.01(0.53) mg/dl and from 332.8 (48.2) to 116.2 (11.1) respectively, after 3 months of SSZ. The sICAM-1 and sP-selectin levels were significantly higher in RA pa tients at baseline and a reduction occurred of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and st i-selectin levels, however this was not significant. The fall in mean (SEM) sICAM-1, from 345.0 (29.8) to 333.5 (30.2), correlated with the change in CRP (r = 0.66;p = 0.018), but the fall in sP-selectin did no t. SSZ therapy reduced sP-selectin and sICAM-1 levels in active RA, sI CAM-1 correlates with disease activity. SSZ may reduce platelet and/or endothelial activity in RA which may be a useful marker of response, however studies of longer duration and more patients are required.