Cross-sectional study of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy men

An elevated plasma concentration of the soluble intercellular adhesion mole cule-1 (sICAM-1) is associated with increased risk for future coronary even ts. However, data exploring the interrelations of sICAM-1 with known cardio vascular risk factors are sparse. We determined sICAM-1 levels in 948 middl e-aged men with no prior history of cardiovascular disease. sICAM-1 levels increased with age (P<0.001) and were significantly associated with smoking (P<0.001), hypertension (P<0.05), and frequent alcohol consumption (P=0.00 6). Positive correlations were observed between sICAM-1 and triglycerides ( r=0.15; P<0.001), fibrinogen (r=0.21; P<0.001), tissue-type plasminogen act ivator antigen (r=0.17; P<0.001), and total homocysteine (r=0.09; P=0.02); whereas a negative correlation was observed for high density lipoprotein ch olesterol (r=-0.15; P<0.001). Overall, plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 inc reased with increasing prevalence of usual cardiovascular risk factors; mea n plasma concentrations were 231, 236, 245, 257, and 312 ng/mL for those su bjects with 0, 1, 2, 3, and >4 risk factors, respectively (P<0.01 for trend ). In multivariate analysis, age, smoking status, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, positive family history of coronary disease, and serum levels of total homocysteine and fibrinogen were all independently associated with sI CAM-1 levels tall P less than or equal to 0.05). sICAM-1 levels are associa ted with several established cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies w ill be needed to evaluate whether these associations reflect the role of sI CAM-1 as a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis, and whether such interrel ations might have a causal basis.