Article Text
Abstract
Objective: To determine serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and its clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Methods: Serum MCP-3 levels from 69 patients with SSc were examined by ELISA.
Results: Serum MCP-3 levels were raised in patients with SSc (n = 69) compared with healthy controls (n = 28). Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (n = 36) had higher levels of serum MCP-3 than those with limited cutaneous SSc (n = 33). Patients with raised MCP-3 levels had pulmonary fibrosis and decreased vital capacity (VC) more often than those with normal MCP-3 levels. MCP-3 levels correlated positively with the extent of skin fibrosis, and inversely with %VC and carbon monoxide transfer factor (Tlco) in patients with SSc.
Conclusion: MCP-3 levels were increased in patients with SSc, and correlated with the extent of skin sclerosis and the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. These results suggest that MCP-3 may have a role in the development of fibrosis in SSc.
- Abs, antibodies
- dSSc, diffuse cutaneous SSc
- ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
- lSSc, limited cutaneous SSc
- MCP, monocyte chemotactic protein
- PF, pulmonary fibrosis
- SSc, systemic sclerosis
- Tlco, carbon monoxide transfer factor
- VC, vital capacity
- systemic sclerosis
- MCP-3
- pulmonary fibrosis
- skin sclerosis