Soluble cell adhesion molecules in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective To observe the changes in serum soluble intercellular adhesion mo lecule type-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule type-1 (VCAM-1), E- selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWf) in patients with acute coronary sy ndrome. Methods Serial venous blood samples were taken from 21 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) before and 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after throm bolytic treatment or direct PTCA. One blood sample was drawn from 16 patien ts with unstable angina and 16 control subjects. Serum concentrations of IC AM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWf were determined using a double antibody sa ndwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWf were higher in p atients with acute coronary syndrome than in controls. Patients with AMI an d successful reperfusion therapy had a significant reduction in the serum c oncentration of ICAM-1 and E-selectin at 24 and 48 h, VCAM-1 at 24 and 72 h and vWf at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, but had peak in serum levels of ICAM-1 and E-selectin at 4 h. The number of diseased coronary arteries was not relate d to the levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Conclusion The serum concentration of soluble cell adhesion molecules was e levated significantly in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Successful reperfusion therapy was associated with a reduction in the serum concentrat ions of soluble cell adhesion molecules in patients with AMI.