Objective: To determine the value of the circulating intercellular adhesion molecule (cICAM-1) as a marker for the inflammatory and fibrotic processes in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Methods: We determined serum levels of cICAM-1 and of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 33 patients with SSc. These values were compared to the concentrations of acute phase reactants and to the extent of skin involvement in diffuse and limited scleroderma.
Results: cICAM-1 was elevated in patients with diffuse SSc (498 +/- 134 ng/ml) as compared with 82 healthy controls (312 +/- 71 ng/ml) (mean +/- SD, p < 0.0001). The elevation of cICAM-1 did not correlate with the duration of disease, the pattern of organ manifestations or the type of treatment. While the concentrations of acute phase proteins were not elevated in SSc, a significant correlation between increased serum sIL-2R and cICAM-1 was observed.
Conclusion: Increased levels of cICAM-1 indicate an activation of immune processes in SSc. The clinical value of the cICAM-1 determination in SSc can only be judged in longitudinal studies.