Increased serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and E-selectin in patients with localized scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: The serum levels of soluble forms of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and E-selectin (sE-selectin) can be used as a marker of endothelial activation.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the serum level of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in patients with localized scleroderma (LSc) was correlated with the clinical or serologic features of this disease.

METHODS: Serum samples from 59 patients with LSc, 20 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 29 healthy controls were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS: The serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in patients with LSc were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were correlated with both the number of sclerotic lesions and the number of involved areas.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin may reflect the extent of the skin involvement (ie, the disease severity) and may be useful for monitoring the in vivo states of endothelial activation in LSc.