Soluble cell adhesion molecules in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the changes in serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule type-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule type-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWf) in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

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 thrombolytic treatment or direct PTCA. One blood sample was drawn from 16 patients with unstable angina and 16 control subjects. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWf were determined using a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWf were higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome than in controls. Patients with AMI and successful reperfusion therapy had a significant reduction in the serum concentration 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 related to the levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selecin.

CONCLUSION

The serum concentration of soluble cell adhesion molecules was elevated significantly in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Successful reperfusion therapy was associated with a reduction in the serum concentrations of soluble cell adhesion molecules in patients with AMI.