Soluble endothelial cell adhesion molecules and their relationship to disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis.

Objective: To investigate soluble (s) E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and their relationship to disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis (TA).

Methods: Levels of adhesion molecules were measured by enzyme immunoassay in the sera of 35 patients with TA, 17 healthy controls, and 15 patients with 12 months followup.

Results: Compared to controls, patients had elevated levels of sE-selectin (54.5 +/- 35.0 vs 36.4 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, p < 0.05), sVCAM-1 (280.9 +/- 267.6 vs 141.2 +/- 76.1 ng/ml, p < 0.05), and sICAM-1 (261.3 +/- 168.1 vs 198.3 +/- 74.3 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Compared to controls, patients with inactive TA also had elevated levels of sE-selectin (67.4 +/- 45.9 vs 36.4 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, p < 0.02), sVCAM-1 (327.6 +/- 327.8 vs 141.2 +/- 76.1 ng/ml, p < 0.02), and sICAM-1 (321.9 +/- 179.5 vs 198.3 +/- 74.3 ng/ml, p < 0.02). There was no difference between active TA and controls. sE-selectin had a trend towards increased levels in inactive versus active TA (67.4 +/- 45.9 vs 44.9 +/- 20.3 ng/ml p = 0.059), but there was no difference in sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels between the groups. No adhesion molecule levels showed a change among followup patients.

Conclusions: Patients with inactive TA have elevated levels of sE-selectin, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1 that might indicate persistent vasculopathy in clinically inactive disease.